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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 War of the Worlds
Book 1, Chapter 17: The “Thunder Child”
Explanation and Analysis—Colonial Conquest:
The War of the Worlds is an allegory for the conquest of primitive peoples by brutal, technologically advanced colonists. It was written during a period of political instability in Europe and reflected the precipice of hysteria upon which most countries tottered. (Similar tensions became evident in 1938 when a radio adaptation of the novel scared Americans into thinking Martians had invaded New Jersey, as well as in 1939 when the very real World War II began.) Capitalizing on the political pressures and anxieties of his own time, Wells crafted a novel about well-equipped outsiders coming to dominate a once-proud nation of ignorant people.
Related Themes:
