Allegory vs Metaphor: What’s the Difference?
The difference at a glance
An allegory is an extended narrative where characters and events symbolize a hidden meaning. A metaphor is a concise figure of speech that equates two unrelated things to highlight a single shared trait.
Example sentences are illustrative learning examples, not verified quotations.
What does Allegory mean?
noun · /ˈæləɡəri/
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one; using characters and events to represent abstract ideas.
Explore AllegoryAllegory in a sentence
The novel worked as both a gripping narrative and a sustained allegory about grief.
All fairy tales are allegories — the forest is never just a forest.
What does Metaphor mean?
noun · /ˈmet.ə.fɔːr/
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable — saying one thing is another to reveal a truth about both.
Explore MetaphorMetaphor in a sentence
Her grief was a fog that settled over everything — a metaphor that the novel sustained for 300 pages.
The metaphor of light for understanding runs through every tradition of philosophy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Allegory and Metaphor?
An allegory is an extended narrative where characters and events symbolize a hidden meaning. A metaphor is a concise figure of speech that equates two unrelated things to highlight a single shared trait.
What does Allegory mean?
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one; using characters and events to represent abstract ideas.
What does Metaphor mean?
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable — saying one thing is another to reveal a truth about both.