How to write an allegory essay

How to Write an Allegory Essay. An allegory is a piece of literature that presents an abstract idea in a concrete or physical form, with the purpose of teaching a moral or a lesson. In allegorical stories, plays and essays the writer will choose to personify -- give a character to -- abstract ideas such as love, death, greed, etc.

You may also see short essay. An allegory uses symbolic figures, actions, imagery, or events, yet it is fairly from symbolism itself. Unlike allegory, symbolism does not depict a story.

You can write something like Animal Farm that closely follows and cleverly mirrors an actual event. Or you can aim for a gentler human truth that becomes slightly surreal, like Shirley Jackson's The Lottery. (If you haven't read it, you can read it here .)

This is often used in literature to teach or explain an idea or principle that may reflect contemporary occurrences in the real world. Here, authors and speakers use allegory to draw a moral or spiritual truth, or political or historical situation for an audience to grasp.