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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 The Demon Lover
Allegory
Explanation and Analysis—Mrs. Drover's Fear:
The fear that Mrs. Drover feels in "The Demon Lover" functions as an allegory for the uncertainty of living through the Blitz, a period of intense bombing in London during World War II. For most of the story, it's unclear whether Mrs. Drover's fear of the letter she finds in her home is reasonable. On the one hand, it's true that the letter's presence seems a little odd, since Mrs. Drover can't account for how it could possibly have ended up on the table in her hallway. On the other hand, though, it slowly becomes clear that Mrs. Drover is afraid of something deeper and more unsettling—something supernatural.
Related Themes:
