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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 Cannery Row
Chapter 20
Explanation and Analysis—The Party and the Frogs:
Mack and his friends' quest to throw a party for Doc is not just an important plot point in Cannery Row—it's also an allegory embedded within the story. The first party goes awry when the gang throws it at Doc's lab before he even gets home, leaving him with nothing but a mess by the time he gets home. The mishap is marked by this moment of situational irony:
Through the broken end of the packing case a frog hopped and sat feeling the air for danger and then another joined him. They could smell the fine damp cool air coming in the door and in through the broken windows. One of them sat on the fallen card which said “Welcome Home, Doc.” And then the two hopped timidly toward the door.
Related Themes:
