Allegory: Difference between revisions

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It is important to note the difference between allegory and symbolism. Both attempt to suggest other levels of meaning by presenting abstract ideas through concrete images, but allegory makes a structure of ideas the controlling influence in the work. A symbol carries a natural relationship to the events of the story; in allegory, the surface story is often a thinly disguised courier for the secondary meaning<ref>Murfin, p. 21</ref><ref>Quinn, p.31</ref>.
It is important to note the difference between allegory and symbolism. Both attempt to suggest other levels of meaning by presenting abstract ideas through concrete images, but allegory makes a structure of ideas the controlling influence in the work. A symbol carries a natural relationship to the events of the story; in allegory, the surface story is often a thinly disguised courier for the secondary meaning<ref>Murfin, p. 21</ref><ref>Quinn, p.31</ref>.


Allegory is still used as a narrative device in literature today, in drama, poetry, prose, and even comics (Gary Trudeau’s Doonesbury, for example). Allegory was most prominent in the Middle Ages, with dream vision and the morality play; other types of allegory common in history are the fable, the parable, and the exemplum.
Allegory is still used as a narrative device in literature today, in drama, poetry, prose, and even comics (Gary Trudeau’s ''Doonesbury'', for example). Allegory was most prominent in the Middle Ages, with dream vision and the morality play; other types of allegory common in history are the fable, the parable, and the exemplum.


== External Links ==
== External Links ==
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== References ==
== References ==


* Beckson, Karl and Arthur Ganz. Literary Terms: A Dictionary. Farrar, Straus and Giroux; New York, 1989.
* Beckson, Karl and Arthur Ganz. ''Literary Terms: A Dictionary''. Farrar, Straus and Giroux; New York, 1989.
* Murfin, Ross and Supryia M. Ray. The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms. Bedford Books; Boston, 1997.
* Murfin, Ross and Supryia M. Ray. ''The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms''. Bedford Books; Boston, 1997.
* Quinn, Edward. A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms. Facts on File, Inc; New York, 1999.
* Quinn, Edward. ''A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms''. Facts on File, Inc; New York, 1999.


[[Category:Literary Terms]]
[[Category:Literary Terms]]
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