what is allegory?
definition
Allegory is a story, poem, or picture which can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
example
George Orwell's Animal Farm is an historical allegory of the Cold War/Bolshevik Revolution in the Soviet Union.
The book is actually about animals rebelling against the farmers, but then the pig leader abuses his power and manipulates the rest of the animals, just like how Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union in real life.
The book is actually about animals rebelling against the farmers, but then the pig leader abuses his power and manipulates the rest of the animals, just like how Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union in real life.
explanation
Allegory is used by a writer to give a symbolic message about the real world. By using symbols in a fictional world, the writer is able to give a broader message to the reader. Where a symbol has a fixed meaning, an allegory can change and develop layers of meaning. Allegory can also be called an extended metaphor. In the Animal Farm example, the pigs symbolise the leaders of the Russian Revolution, including Joseph Stalin.