allegory crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! If you're tackling the 'allegory crossword clue', you've come to the right place. We've compiled the most common and accurate solutions, complete with explanations, to help you complete your puzzle quickly and confidently.
Solutions for "allegory crossword clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
TALE: A narrative that can sometimes serve an allegorical purpose, conveying a deeper message or moral.
5 Letters
FABLE: A short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral or message. A common answer for 'allegory' due to its illustrative nature.
6 Letters
SYMBOL: Something that stands for or suggests something else; a symbol is often a key component within an allegory, representing abstract ideas.
7 Letters
PARABLE: A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. A very strong and frequent answer for 'allegory'.
More About "allegory crossword clue"
An allegory is a powerful literary device, a story within a story, where characters, events, and settings function as symbols for abstract ideas or principles. Unlike a simple metaphor, an allegory extends its symbolism throughout an entire narrative, providing a sustained parallel between the literal story and a deeper, often moral, political, or spiritual meaning.
When "allegory" appears as a crossword clue, solvers should consider narratives that inherently carry a hidden message. Works like George Orwell's "Animal Farm" (a political allegory for the Russian Revolution) or John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" (a religious allegory for the Christian journey) are classic examples that embody this concept. The clue prompts you to think of the forms these symbolic stories take.
Common crossword answers for "allegory" will often be words denoting types of illustrative narratives, such as fables, parables, or sometimes even more general terms like tales, which can contain allegorical elements. The length of the answer required by the puzzle is key to narrowing down the possibilities.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Always Check the Letter Count: The number of letters in the answer block is your first and most crucial hint. It immediately eliminates many possibilities.
- Think of Related Literary Forms: For "allegory," consider other terms for illustrative stories or symbolic representations, such as myth, fable, parable, or even emblem.
- Look for Synonyms or Core Concepts: Sometimes the answer isn't a direct synonym but represents the core concept of the clue. For allegory, think "moral," "lesson," or "hidden meaning."
- Utilize Crossing Letters: Don't try to solve a clue in isolation. The letters filled in from intersecting words are often the most valuable aid in confirming or revealing a difficult answer.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an allegory in simple terms?
An allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. It's a symbolic narrative that conveys a deeper message, often used to teach a lesson or make a point about human nature or society.
How do allegories appear in crosswords?
In crosswords, an 'allegory' clue often points to words like PARABLE, FABLE, or even more general terms like STORY or TALE, depending on the available letter count and context from crossing letters. The key is to think of narratives that carry a symbolic or moral underpinning beyond their literal plot.
What's the difference between an allegory and a metaphor?
While both involve symbolic representation, an allegory is an *extended* narrative – a full story, poem, or picture – where characters, events, and settings all represent abstract ideas or qualities. A metaphor, on the other hand, is a *figure of speech* where one thing is directly compared to another, usually in a single phrase or sentence, without the full narrative structure of an allegory.