Transcript Allegory
Allegory English II Academic Allegory • Allegory: – A specific type of symbolism…. – A genre of writing in which the objects, persons, and actions in a narrative have a symbolic meaning beyond the facts of the narrative (www.apexvs.com) • What does this mean? – The story as a whole has a meaning beyond the literal interpretation. Allegory • To understand Allegory, you must first understand the difference between a literal interpretation and a figurative interpretation. – Literal interpretation: looking only at the words and plot…not looking at the symbolic nature of anything. – Figurative interpretation: looking at how the characters, plot, setting etc can be taken in a different context (metaphorically). Allegory • Here’s an example: – Lord of the Flies • Read literally: – These boys are stuck on an island – Ralph is the leader – Jack is always fighting Ralph for power – Simon is kind of strange… Lord of the Flies • Can also be read as an allegory: – – – – Religious Allegory Political Allegory Moral Allegory Social Allegory Religious Allegory Jack: Simon: Christ Figure Evil Ralph: Everyman Supports: Ralph struggles to find his place between Simon (who is always good) and Jack (who is usually evil). Simon is tempted in the forest by the Lord of the Flies (Beelzebub) just as Jesus was tempted by the devil Simon is killed by the tribe as he returns with the truth about the “beast” just as Jesus is crucified for spreading the “truth”. Political Allegory JACK: HITLER PIGGY: CHURCHILL RALPH: FDR Think about it in respect to WWII… Jack commands his choir (and eventually his tribe) as a dictator Jack constantly attacks Piggy, and Ralph constantly stands up for Piggy Ralph attempts to be a peacemaker, but he fails. Moral Allegory RALPH = COMMON SENSE JACK = EMOTIONS PIGGY = INTELLECT SIMON = SOUL Moral Allegory Ralph (common sense) attempts to balance Piggy (intellect), Jack (emotions), and Simon (soul) and fails, plunging into a world of chaos. How does this explanation fit with the actual plot of the story? Social Allegory Social Allegory Social Allegory: Ralph (government) tries to balance Jack (power), Piggy (technology), and Simon (soul) and fails as power warps technology, destroys humanism, and attempts to abolish government. How does this fit with the plot of the story? Allegory • Other examples of allegories include: – The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – Animal Farm by George Orwell – “Young Goodman Brown” by Hawthorne