Previous
Literary Devices
Definition of Allegory
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and events. The story of "The Tortoise and The Hare" is... read full definition
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and events. The story of "The... read full definition
An allegory is a work that conveys a hidden meaning—usually moral, spiritual, or political—through the use of symbolic characters and... read full definition
Key Examples in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Chapter 12 - Alice's Evidence
Explanation and Analysis—Wonderland:
Some critics read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as a political allegory in which Wonderland symbolizes England. According to this view, the tyrannical Queen of Hearts corresponds to Queen Victoria. Both the Duchess and the Queen display violent and irrational tendencies in the Trial scene, which supports the reading of this scene as an allegory for the British justice system. In Chapter 12, the Queen demands a sentence before a verdict in a nonsensical trial:
“Let the jury consider their verdict,” the King said, for about the twentieth time that day. “No, no!” said the Queen. “Sentence first—verdict afterwards.”
Related Themes:
