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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 Old Man and the Sea
Allegory
Explanation and Analysis—Santiago as Jesus:
The Old Man and the Sea is a Christian allegory. The story is full of Christian imagery, with the protagonist Santiago serving as a Christ-like figure. Santiago's injured hands evoke Jesus's stigmata, or the wounds on his palms. The mast of Santiago's ship, which Santiago bears on his back to and from the water each and every day, also evokes Jesus's cross both in shape and in the way Santiago carries it.
Related Themes:
