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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 Left Hand of Darkness
Allegory
Explanation and Analysis:
Le Guin utilizes the alien landscape of Winter and its various civilizations as allegories for human governments and political systems. Karhide and Orgoreyn allegoricize feudal and authoritarian communist societies, respectively. As in all of her written works, Le Guin does not present one governmental system as inherently superior to another, though it is clear that she favors egalitarianism.
