Question

HELP!
I'm writing an allegory as a project.
I read over my lesson and am still unsure what an allegory is.
What are some good examples of an allegory so I get an idea of what I should do???

Answer 1

As a literary device, an allegory in its most general sense is an extended metaphor. Allegory has been used widely throughout the histories of all forms of art, largely because it readily illustrates complex ideas and concepts in ways that are comprehensible to its viewers, readers, or listeners. Allegories are typically used as literary devices or rhetorical devices that convey hidden meanings through symbolic figures, actions, imagery, and/or events, which together create the moral, spiritual, or political meaning the author wishes to convey.[1]

One of the best known examples is Plato's Allegory of the Cave, a part of his larger work The Republic. In this allegory, there are a group of people who have lived chained in a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall (514a-b). The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of a fire behind them and begin to ascribe forms to these shadows, using language to identify their world (514c-515a). According to the allegory, the shadows are as close as the prisoners get to viewing reality, until one of them finds his way into the outside world where he sees the actual objects that produced the shadows. He tries to tell the people in the cave of his discovery, but they do not believe him and vehemently resist his efforts to free them so they can see for themselves (516e-518a). This allegory is, on a basic level, about a philosopher who upon finding greater knowledge outside the cave of human understanding, seeks to share it as is his duty, and the foolishness of those who would ignore him because they think themselves educated enough.[2]

Answer 2

hope that helps

Answer 3

So I know that I'll need a problem throughout the story.
I have chosen man vs man conflict. I've also chosen social as the relation to either social, political, or historical based plot. I just need to know what I should use as my symbolism, the problem throughout the story & what my character will be. I just can't think of anything. I know of Mice and Men is supposed to be a good example, but I'm just not sure how to make something similar.