History Main / Allegory

Perhaps the most famous example is ''Literature/PilgrimsProgress'', a Christian allegory in which the protagonist (named [[MeaningfulName Christian]]) leaves his old life to go on a journey to the [[{{Heaven}} Celestial City]], overcoming many obstacles along the way. Not all allegories are this {{Anvilicious}}, however. Some are very subtle, to the point where you don't even ''realize'' the story is an allegory until someone points it out to you. This is why so many readers get to thinking that EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory.

** ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'' begins with an ecological catastrophe that destabilizes the Klingon Empire, forcing them to make peace with the Federation in a manner reminiscent of the Chernobyl disaster and subsequent end of the Cold War.

WorldOfSymbolism is a SubTrope in which the Allegory ''only'' makes sense on the [[RuleOfSymbolism metaphorical level]] and not the [[MindScrew literal one]]. AllegoryAdventure is a SubTrope in which the plot is an allegory for another work of fiction. BeastFable is another common form: just use various animals as an allegory for segments of human society.

* In Season 2 of ''Podcast/WithinTheWires'', which deals with the analysis of fictional art, this is {{Discussed}} in-universe. Claudia Atieno's painting "Still Life with Orchid" was meant to communicate the unknowable, cyclical nature of existence through LifeDeathJuxtaposition: a living orchid with dead leaves and oranges with subtly rotting undersides. But much to her displeasure, most viewers read it as a [[YouCantFightFate fatalistic]] commentary on death's inevitability.

* ''Literature/AnimalFarm'' - Animals oust the human farmer and take over the running of the farm, as an allegory for the rise and corruption of Communism in the USSR.

WorldOfSymbolism is a SubTrope in which the Allegory ''only'' makes sense on the [[RuleOfSymbolism metaphorical level]] and not the [[MindScrew literal one]].

AllegoryAdventure is a SubTrope in which the plot is an allegory for another work of fiction.

BeastFable is another common form: just use various animals as an allegory for segments of human society.

Compare DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything.

Contrast {{Applicability}}, which is when a story has meanings ''beyond'' with the author intended.
Likewise, EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory is when the reader sees meanings that aren't really there. See Also {{Metaphorgotten}}, when the story (or reader) loses track of what it was talking about.

* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' is widely regarded as heavy-handed Christian allegory, but it's actually averted - Aslan literally ''is'' Jesus.

[[folder: Religion and Mythology]]
* Christ's parables in Literature/TheBible were this. [[WordOfGod He himself]] even provides the literal interpretation of the Parable of the Sower.

* ''Literature/LordOfTheFlies'' for war and its causes, the island acting as a microcosm for the World at [[TheFifties the time]].
* ''Literature/TheDivineComedy''. The trip through {{Hell}}, Purgatory, and {{Heaven}} is also a trip through the human mind.
* Creator/EdmundSpenser's ''Literature/TheFaerieQueene'' is an allegory of virtues. It also has an interwoven political allegory.

* Much of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' {{Prequel}} {{Trilogy}}, especially ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', is an allegory for the Nazi rise to power, [[spoiler:Chancellor Palpatine]] being Hitler and [[spoiler:Obi-Wan and Anakin]] the Goerring brothers, with the latter also representing all Germans. [[spoiler:Senator Amidala]] was representative of democracy[[spoiler:, and possibly the extermination of Jews, though [[NataliePortman the actress']] family history is probably a coincidence]]. There is also the Stormtroopers being, in both cases, first brought in by the Chancellor for the Republic and then used as his personal army. The Separatists may also be representative of the RealLife Spartacists. [[http://graphicsappreciation.tumblr.com/post/41364905844/palpatineishitlertheconvinvingargument This]] is one of many evidence articles on the internet for this.

Perhaps the most famous example is Literature/PilgrimsProgress, a Christian allegory in which the protagonist (named [[MeaningfulName Christian]]) leaves his old life to go on a journey to the [[{{Heaven}} Celestial City]], overcoming many obstacles along the way. Not all allegories are this {{Anvilicious}}, however. Some are very subtle, to the point where you don't even ''realize'' the story is an allegory until someone points it out to you. This is why so many readers get to thinking that EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory.

* The ''Literature/DivineComedy''. The trip through {{Hell}}, Purgatory, and {{Heaven}} is also a trip through the human mind.

* ''Literature/AnimalFarm'' - animals oust the human farmer and take over the running of the farm, as an allegory for the rise and corruption of Communism in the USSR.
* ''Literature/BattleRoyale'' is considered an allegory about humans ( [[TeensAreMonsters Not just teens]]) and what they're willing to do in order to survive.

* ''Literature/HindsFeetOnHighPlaces'' - for the process of converting to Christianity
* ''Literature/PilgrimsProgress'' - for the process of converting to Christianity

* Creator/DrSeuss is on record for saying that his story "The Sneetches" is an allegory for anti-semitism.

* Creator/EdmundSpenser's ''TheFaerieQueene'' is an allegory of virtues. It also has an interwoven political allegory.

Perhaps the most famous example is PilgrimsProgress, a Christian allegory in which the protagonist (named [[MeaningfulName Christian]]) leaves his old life to go on a journey to the [[{{Heaven}} Celestial City]], overcoming many obstacles along the way. Not all allegories are this {{Anvilicious}}, however. Some are very subtle, to the point where you don't even ''realize'' the story is an allegory until someone points it out to you. This is why so many readers get to thinking that EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory.

* The ''DivineComedy''. The trip through {{Hell}}, Purgatory, and {{Heaven}} is also a trip through the human mind.

* ScottPilgrim is one big allegory for growing up, taking responsibility for your mistakes, and learning something from them instead of pretending they never happened.

** In ''Star Wars: Episode I Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Anakin is meant to be representative of Christ.
%%Any discussion links / Word of God on this one? It looks a bit odd next to the Nazi allegory.

[[/folder]

[[folder: Religion and Mythology]]
* Christ's parables in Literature/TheBible were this. [[WordOfGod He himself]] even provides the literal interpretation of the Parable of the Sower.