Allegory
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Definition and Etymology
Allegory is defined by Sharon Crowley and Debra Hawhee as a metaphor is "sustained throughout a long passage". [1]
/al-uh-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee/ ǽləgɔ̀ri First appeared in the Middle English period around the fourteenth century as allegorie derived from the Latin allegoria. The Greek allēgoria means to speak as to imply something other. [1]
Another definition derived from the Greek base words is "to speak in a manner which conceals your real meaning"[2]
Rhetorical allegory uses the characters and actions of the text to convey a deeper meaning outside the literal meaning of the text. [3] The deeper meanings within an allegory usually involve an aspect of the human condition and often remain relevant after long periods of time. Allegory extends itself beyond Metaphor in that metaphor does not necessarily involve a deeper meaning, which is essential in allegory. Allegory takes the properties of one idea or construct and place them on another to illustrate the author's point. Allegory is similar to a parable in terms of conveying a deeper message, which is a key point to both literary constructs. Parables are usually short stories with a deeper lesson hidden within the story.[4] Herein lies the slight difference between the conventions, allegory is used to convey a deeper meaning beyond what is said and can be difficult to determine, a parable's lesson is generally obvious and forthcoming. Parables compare two different ideas or objects against one another to give a message, whereas allegory transposes the properties of one object onto another. [5]
Another closely related rhetorical technique is satire.[6] Satire relies on humor to convey its deeper meaning which separates it from allegory but both attempt to convey a meaning beyond what is said in an effort to evoke a reaction. Allegory is distinctly different from satire in that it is generally used to convey a message whereas satire is used to change a reader's opinion on something through humor and wit.
An easy way to grasp the idea is to imagine that an allegory is a metaphor, blown up and expanded to large proportions. For example in poetry, a metaphor maybe a single word or phrase that associates two different things or situations together, like a snapshot of an image. An allegory in poetry would take the initial image provided by the metaphor, and expand on for a sustained period of the poem. Poets often use the metaphor of a rose, for love, the person whom they love, or the idea of love.
Examples
Use in Nonfiction
Allegories in nonfiction can be seen in speech making. For example when a politician says a new door has opened when discussing a matter and holds to this metaphor throughout the speech, it is allegory.
Using allegories in nonfiction would give the factual writing a creative flourish.
Allegories can be used in autobiographies or biographies, to add a deeper meaning or to portray a lesson learned in life.
Many historical events are used as allegories in writing, World War II, for example. Many allegories are also religion-based, which depending on your point of view could be a nonfiction allegory.
Use in Fiction
1. The novel, Animal Farm, by George Orwell is an allegory about communism.
2. In Lord of the Rings, The Ring is an allegory for the negative effects of materialsm.
3. J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series to be a Christian allegory [2].
4. The X-Men movies had several allegories within them. Teenagers would "come out" as mutants, an allegory to "coming out" for your sexual orientation. Mutants also lined up for a cure in The Last Stand, an allegory for "aborting" their gift. Mutants were also rounded up, put in jail and experimented on--an exact allegory of The Holocaust.
5. Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy" is an allegorical construction of man's journey toward God spiritually. While, literally, Dante travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, the journey is symbolically toward God.
6. The film "Pleasantville" is an allegory for the effects of racism and segregation.
7. Kermit the Frog's song "Being Green" is an allegory for being African American in America.
8. W.B. Yeats' Poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is an allegory about a more simple time that the speaker desires.
Working on this entry
James Bates: Primary editor
Amy O: Secondary Editor and Contributor
Chelsea Schmitt and Kristin Jatkowski: Poster
Gabe Green: Secondary
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References
- ↑ Crowly and Hawhee; Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students
- ↑ Harry Potter as Allegory; "What Does Harry Potter Have To Do With Shakespeare?, http://www.scribd.com/doc/18324722/Understanding-Allegory-From-Harry-Potter-to-Shakespeare
1. Crowly and Hawhee; Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students
2. Harry Potter as Allegory; "What Does Harry Potter Have To Do With Shakespeare?, http://www.scribd.com/doc/18324722/Understanding-Allegory-From-Harry-Potter-to-Shakespeare
3. Allegory definition http://grammar.about.com/od/terms/g/allegory.htm
4. Parable definition http://grammar.about.com/od/pq/g/parableterm.htm
5. Allegory compared to Parable http://www.bible.ca/d-parables-of-jesus.htm
6. Satire definition http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satire
