We often use words and phrases that in allegorical form indicate any concepts or phenomena without naming them. For example, when we say “crow in peacock feathers,” we mean a person trying to seem more important and significant than he really is. “First swallow” we call signs of approaching something new, joyful, change for the better. Such a technique of figurative speech in literature and in art is an allegory, examples of which are given above.
The origins of this definition
The allegory comes from Greek words: allos - different and agoreuo - I say. Abstract concepts that cannot be conveyed briefly are depicted in the form of a vivid image, the name of which is an allegory. Examples of such images, understandable to all people regardless of their nationality: the image of a woman with a blindfold and scales in her hand is a well-known symbol of justice; the snake wrapped around the cup is a symbol of medicine. Allegory as an artistic device came to art from Greek mythology and folklore. Most biblical images are also allegorical. Examples of allegories in the Bible: Judas personifies lies and betrayal, and the Mother of God represents moral purity and integrity.
Where can I find allegory
In fiction, allegorical images are most often used in fables and parables. The ancient Greek fabulist Aesop resorted to an allegorical form of expression of his thoughts, since he could not express them directly. Under the guise of animals, he ridiculed human stupidity, greed, hypocrisy. Later, the allegorical manner of expressing thoughts began to be called Aesopian language. In Russian literature, allegory is widely used in the fables of I. A. Krylov. Examples of this are images of animals that are characters of Krylov’s fables. By them is meant some specific human character trait. A pig is an allegory of ignorance, a fox is cunning, deceit, flattery at the same time, a donkey is stupidity.
Relationship Comparisons
Sometimes an allegorical image expresses a certain attitude to the concept that he depicts. For example, Ilf and Petrov use the image of the golden calf, which represents wealth and money. Emphasizing their ironic attitude towards this image, they turned the calf into a calf. And already a slightly different meaning has taken on a well-known allegory - an example of a meaningless pursuit of wealth. This theme can easily be traced in many classic and contemporary literary plays.
Allegory. Examples in proper nouns
The allegory is used by writers in the names of the characters. Griboedov has Molchalin and Skalozub, Gogol has Sobakevich, Plyushkin, Lyapkin-Tyapkin, Fonvizin has Pravdin, Starodum, Prostakov. These “talking” surnames are also an example of allegory. Fiction, like music, sculpture, painting, depicts life through artistic images that carry the feelings of the creator, understanding this or that phenomenon through personal experience, world perception. To make the artistic image deeper, in order to most accurately convey their experiences, writers use all the richness and diversity of the language, including allegory.