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Allegory
[
′æli(ә)gәri] (from the Greek, “ to speak so as to imply something other) is a 
kind of metaphor extended through an entire speech so that objects, persons and actions in 
the text are equated with meanings that lie outside the text. Allegory is not an individual, 
particular metaphor within a text; it is a more or less complete tale with profound abstract 
meaning (moral, social, religious, or political) which is discernible under its surface 
meaning. Allegory appeals more to imagination. 
One of the main features of allegory is the extended and extensive use of 
personifications by which various abstract ideas are conveyed. E.g. the fable of the fox and 
the crow. 
Allegory in its most common form is also akin to antonomasia. Words denoting 
abstract notions are used as proper names. The most famous allegory in English is John 
Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”, an allegory of Christian salvation represented by the varied 
experiences of its hero. The names of pilgrims are Christian and Hopeful, the name of the 
giant is Despair, his wife’s name is Diffidence.
Implying something more important than it seems to denote literally, allegory is 
widely used in philosophical and satirical novels, for instance “Gulliver’s Travels” by Swift, 
“Mardi” by Melville. 
The allegorical stories told by Christ in the Bible are called parables. The function 
of allegory in them is to enlighten the hearer by answering questions, suggesting some 
principles and offering a definite moral.
The application of allegory in fables is even more didactic. Animals, irrational or 
inanimate beings, for the purpose of moral instruction, act and speak with human interests 
and passions.
e.g. 
A Famished Fox saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from a trellised 
vine.
She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain, for she could 
not reach them. At last she turned away, hiding her disappointment and saying: “
The Grapes 
are sour and not ripe as I thought”.