Allegory uses symbolic characters and events to convey deeper meanings. It helps writers express complex ideas through story. Allegory for CUET preparation is key for literary analysis.
What is Allegory?
Allegory is a story with two levels:
- The surface narrative that entertains
- The symbolic meaning that teaches
Characters, objects, and events represent abstract ideas or moral concepts.
Characteristics of Allegory
- Symbols stand for larger concepts
- Dual meaning works on literal and symbolic levels
- Messages often teach moral or political lessons
- Characters typically represent specific qualities
Types of Allegory
Political Allegory
Uses fiction to comment on political systems.
Examples for CUET
- Animal Farm – Farm animals represent Soviet leaders
- The Crucible – Salem witch trials mirror McCarthy’s communist hunt
- Lord of the Flies – Boys on an island show how societies form and collapse
Moral Allegory
Focuses on ethical lessons and human behavior.
Examples for CUET
- The Pilgrim’s Progress – Christian’s journey represents spiritual growth
- Everyman – The character meets personified abstractions like Good Deeds
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Shows the dual nature of humanity
Religious Allegory
Uses symbols to express spiritual concepts.
Examples for CUET
- The Chronicles of Narnia – Aslan represents Christ
- Life of Pi – Explores faith through survival at sea
- Young Goodman Brown – Journey into a forest represents spiritual testing
Historical Allegory
Reinterprets real events through symbols.
Examples for CUET
- The Handmaid’s Tale – Warns about extremist governments
- A Tale of Two Cities – Examines the French Revolution’s impact
- The Scarlet Letter – Explores Puritan society’s rigid morality
Key Allegorical Works
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
Prisoners see only shadows on a wall, mistaking them for reality. When freed, they discover the true world.
Meaning: People accept limited perceptions as complete reality.
Aesop’s Fables
Short tales with animal characters teaching moral lessons.
Example: “The Tortoise and the Hare” shows slow persistence beats hasty overconfidence.
Dante’s Divine Comedy
The poet travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.
Meaning: The soul’s journey toward God, with each level representing spiritual states.
Orwell’s Animal Farm
Farm animals overthrow human owners but end up creating similar tyranny.
Specific symbols:
- Napoleon (pig) = Stalin
- Snowball (pig) = Trotsky
- Boxer (horse) = loyal working class
- Squealer (pig) = propaganda machine
Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress
Christian travels from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City.
Specific symbols:
- Slough of Despond = despair
- Vanity Fair = worldly temptations
- Giant Despair = hopelessness
- Palace Beautiful = church community
Modern Examples for CUET
- The Hunger Games – Critiques class inequality and entertainment culture
- The Matrix – Questions reality and knowledge
- Wall-E – Comments on consumerism and environmental damage
- Get Out – Explores racial exploitation through horror
Allegory in Indian Literature
- Panchatantra – Animal fables teaching practical wisdom
- Jataka Tales – Buddha’s previous lives as moral lessons
- The Mahabharata – Epic battle representing dharma versus adharma
- Premchand’s “Kafan” – Poverty’s dehumanizing effects
- Tagore’s “The Home and the World” – Personal and political ideals in conflict
How to Identify Allegory for CUET Exam
Look for:
- Characters with symbolic names
- Simplified character traits
- Clear moral messages
- Universal themes
- Historical parallels
Analyzing Allegory for CUET
- Identify the surface story
- Find symbolic elements
- Connect to larger themes
- Consider historical context
- Examine author’s purpose
Practice MCQs
- Question: In “Animal Farm,” what real-world event does the animal rebellion represent? a) American Revolution b) French Revolution c) Russian Revolution d) Chinese Revolution
- Question: Which character represents Christ in “The Chronicles of Narnia”? a) Edmund b) Peter c) Aslan d) Mr. Tumnus
- Question: What does the cave represent in Plato’s allegory? a) The natural world b) Limited perception of reality c) The afterlife d) Philosophical knowledge
- Question: Which of these works is a moral allegory? a) Animal Farm b) The Pilgrim’s Progress c) The Great Gatsby d) Pride and Prejudice
- Question: In Golding’s “Lord of the Flies,” what does the conch shell symbolize? a) Wealth b) Order and civilization c) Divine power d) Natural beauty
- Question: Which allegorical element is primarily used in “The Handmaid’s Tale”? a) Religious allegory b) Political allegory c) Moral allegory d) Historical allegory
- Question: In the “Allegory of the Cave,” what do the shadows represent? a) Evil forces b) Human desires c) False perceptions of reality d) Divine messages
- Question: What concept does Christian’s burden represent in “The Pilgrim’s Progress”? a) Physical illness b) Family responsibilities c) Sin and guilt d) Social expectations
- Question: Which work uses animals as allegorical characters? a) The Great Gatsby b) Panchatantra c) To Kill a Mockingbird d) Hamlet
- Question: What does the island in “Lord of the Flies” represent? a) Paradise b) Human society c) Prison d) Nature’s beauty
Answer Key:
- c) Russian Revolution
- c) Aslan
- b) Limited perception of reality
- b) The Pilgrim’s Progress
- b) Order and civilization
- b) Political allegory
- c) False perceptions of reality
- c) Sin and guilt
- b) Panchatantra
- b) Human society
