Allegory a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a deeper hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning.

Allegory is nothing new! You have been reading and watching it since you were little!

Allegory example: “The Three Little Pigs” In 1933, Walt Disney made an animated cartoon based on the tale, and the song for the cartoon, “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf”, was a best selling single.

Allegory example: “The Three Little Pigs” Disney’s “The Three Little Pigs” cartoon and song were very popular in the 1930’s. Disney’s adaptation of the cartoon and the song were considered an allegory for the Great Depression, and later to Nazi Germany.

Allegory example: “The Three Little Pigs” Allegory for the Great Depression: Wolf = the Depression Three Little Pigs= Americans Now think about the story, substituting those key elements. Doesn’t that make sense? What message is being sent? “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf” Lyrics: http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/games/songs/childrens/badwolfmid.htm

Allegory example: “The Three Little Pigs” It was meant to give hope to Americans struggling through that time. Reminded Americans that the way to get through was to work hard, and work together. “ ‘The Three Little Pigs’ mirrored the people's resolve against the "big bad wolf" of The Great Depression; the song actually became something of an anthem of the Great Depression [3].” -

Allegory example: “The Three Little Pigs” and the Holocaust The song and a newer version of the cartoon was used to represent Hitler and the Holocaust. In 1941, Disney produced a special edition of the short, in which Practical Pig was renamed Thrifty Pig and built his house of war bonds, thereby foiling the wolf – who sported a swastika on his armband. One sequence in the cartoon, which showed the Big Bad Wolf dressing up as a of a Jewish peddler, was censored from the film after its release and replaced with a less offensive sequence, with the Wolf pretending to be the “Fuller Brush Man” instead, but still had a Yiddish voice.” The wolf disguised as a peddler (with stereotypical jewish characteristics) would try to persuade the pigs to come out of the house.

Wolf = ….? Little Pigs =…?

Allegory example: “The Three Little Pigs”

Excerpt from New York Times article: “Still Huffing, Still Puffing” (2001). In 1933, when Disney's Technicolor animated treatment of the story won an Oscar, the wolf at the door represented the Great Depression, and Walt himself explained the moral: ''Wisdom along with courage is enough to defeat big bad wolves of every description and send them slinking away.'' We use fables, G. K. Chesterton observed, for the purpose of ''handing down those tremendous truths that are called truisms.'' As allegories, they are applicable to any situation.