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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 Paradise Lost
Allegory
Explanation and Analysis—Milton and Civil War:
Paradise Lost is frequently interpreted as a political allegory: though it clearly presents the story of mankind's and Satan's fall from grace, Milton's known allegiance to Oliver Cromwell (the statesman who overthrew King Charles I during the English Civil War) suggests that he may have intended the epic poem to be a commentary on the events of the Civil War, with Cromwell standing in for Satan, and God for King Charles I.
