Word

allegory

noun C1

UK /ˈælɪɡəɹi/

US /ˈæləˌɡɔɹi/

Meanings

noun

A story, poem, film, or artwork in which characters and events symbolize deeper meanings, often moral or political ideas.

allegory: A story, poem, film, or artwork in which characters and events symbolize deeper meanings, often moral or political…

noun

A symbolic representation of an idea, often shown through a figure or scene in art.

Definition

An allegory is a story or artwork in which characters and events represent deeper ideas or moral lessons.

An allegory is a narrative in which the surface story has a second level of meaning. The characters, settings, and actions stand for abstract ideas such as freedom, greed, or justice. Writers use allegory to comment on society, politics, or morality in an indirect way.

Examples

The film works as an allegory for life under dictatorship.
In class, we discussed the novel as an allegory of greed and power.
The author wrote the allegory to criticize society without naming anyone directly.
Many readers miss the allegory and focus only on the adventure plot.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse allegory with a symbol or metaphor, but an allegory is an extended story or scene with a consistent second meaning.