What is the definition of allegory?
An allegory is a subtle or hidden message embedded within a storyline. The message is rarely directly mentioned by the author. Rather, it is conveyed through literary devices such as metaphor, personification and synecdoche.
A story that contains allegory usually has a double meaning. Often, the literal meaning is designed to entertain the reader, whilst the underlying allegorical meaning has a profound message or social commentary that the author wants to portray.
Allegorical messages tend to pass on deep truths or important insights to readers. As a writer, you can use allegorical stories to teach lessons about life, morality, politics, or any other issue you feel needs to be explored.
Characteristics of allegory
Allegorical stories are figurative rather than literal. They therefore require interpretation from readers. Due to their figurative style, allegorical texts are good examples of texts that ‘show’ rather than ‘tell’ authors’ perspectives.
Allegory is generally used in fiction rather than non-fiction texts. Popular text types which involve allegory include poems, novels, short stories, fables, parables and films. It is not common to find allegories in essays, biographies or historical texts because these texts are usually literal not figurative.
Types of allegory
There are two distinct types of allegory: allegorical interpretation and allegorical writing.
Allegorical interpretation is understood as the oldest from of allegory. Allegorical interpretation is a form of reading that aims to uncover deep truths in a text.
Allegorical interpretation has its origins in Greek philosophy. Philosophers such as Plato aimed to interpret allegorical meaning underpinning events and mythologies of ancient Greek literature.
Allegorical interpretation was also dominant amongst early Jewish, Islamic and Christian scholars who tried to uncover deep hidden meanings within spiritual texts.
Allegorical writing is the intentional act of creating texts with two meanings. During Roman times there was a shift from allegorical interpretation to allegorical writing. Ever since, allegory has been a well-known rhetorical device used by writers.
Antithesis is not only a revered literary device that only the best wield, but it’s a rhetoric device some of the most famous speakers in history have used to emphasize their points. It’s rousing in a speech when you juxtapose two opposites to show a contrasting effect that’s as wide as the ocean.
While that may be good and true, few writers use antithesis because, if forced, it sounds contrived and sanctimonious. Let’s look at antithesis closer to see if—or how—you can use it to reach deeper meaning.
What does antithesis mean?
Antithesis literally means “opposite.” It’s used by writers and speakers to compare two opposite ideas to achieve a contrasting effect. It parallels two contrasting phrases or classes with a similar structure to draw attention to their significance or importance.
How to write using antithesis
Use words to convey ideas by combining common words and expressions in ways that contrast everyday life. You can easily emphasize two contrasting ideas, or characters, and even make a subtle judgment, much like Dickens did in A Tale of Two Cities.
The key to using antithesis is not to set out to use it. You can see how powerful a rhetorical device it is for rousing speeches, but try to force it, and it becomes trite. Just like with theme in your manuscript, you can’t set out with an idea of presenting it because then you’re preaching.
Antithesis must come naturally in your work. You’ll find it comes with rewrite after rewrite when you finally narrow down your thoughts into powerful words that convey your meaning. And it will come when you realize you’re at a crossroads: you have a stark choice between two alternatives. It’s an emotional upheaval that leads to some of the most poignant and mesmerizing statements in history like:
“Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.” — Edward Kennedy in his eulogy for Robert F. Kennedy
Assonance
What is assonance?
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in non-rhyming words used noticeably close together. More common in poetry, this literary device comes from the Latin phrase assonare which means “to answer with the same sound.” It is the sound that counts here rather than the spelling, although it will often be the same letter or pair of letters that are repeated.
The companion technique is consonance, which is repetition of consonant sounds.
More recent example of assonance
The hip-hop group Doomtree’s song “Bangarang” uses a lot of assonance. Here’s a portion of that song that’s heavy with the literary device.
“But some punks want to jump up; With a sharp tongue and their fronts up; Like we got here by dumb luck; But they just want to become us.”
In fact, in this short example, over a third of the words use a short u sound (phonetic symbol /ʌ/). This example also relies on the consonance of m and n sounds.
Consonance
Definition of consonance
Consonance is a stylistic literary device that uses the sounds of similar consonants in words, a sentence or phrase. These consonants don’t have to be the same, just the sounds. For example, words with an “f” or “ph” or even “gh” sound the same but use different consonants.
The companion technique to consonance is assonance, where a writer repeats vowel sounds.
Why use consonance?
Consonance intensifies or enhances your word choice. It can:
Add a musical or lyrical quality to your prose. Sounds stand out in a reader’s mind, making them spend more time thinking about your words and meaning.
Slow down a moment. Since readers pay more attention to your words and language choices, it can slow them down. Consider how you could extend or draw out a scene by using consonance.
Urge readers to slow down and pay more attention to your wordplay, especially in poetry. It also encourages readers to read your lines again to get a better grasp of your meaning and how you use language.
Euphemism
Writers use euphemisms to soften harsher thoughts or wording, especially when dealing with death, violence, crimes, sexual intercourse, and “embarrassing” things. So instead of using a harsh word like “dead,” they may write “passed on” or “at peace.”
Many people consider the use of euphemisms as the polite way to express the unpleasant realities of life. How many euphemisms have people constructed to describe common bodily functions that polite people don’t like to discuss? We could spend all day on potty euphemisms!
How to create a euphemism
For centuries, polite society has chosen euphemism to mask rude thoughts or language in a clear, more acceptable way. A few ways to create them include:
Hubris
What is Hubris?
Hubris is that all-consuming pride that leads a protagonist to think he is better than anyone else. He feels the rules don’t apply to him, which leads to his ultimate downfall. LiteraryDevices.net describes hubris as:
“a typical flaw in the personality of a character who enjoys a powerful position; as a result of which, he overestimates his capabilities to such an extent that he loses contact with reality. A character suffering from hubris tries to cross normal human limits, and violates moral codes.”
Shakespeare was fond of hubris. Consider Macbeth, perhaps the greatest example of an astonishing amount of hubris. His over-inflated ego eventually destroys him and everyone around him. As Shakespeare writes, “Let not light see my black and deep desires”: Macbeth knows the lay of the land, but he’ll still do anything to serve his ambitions.
Who here remembers Mel Gibson’s abhorrent fall from grace? Or how about the American demi-god Tiger Woods? He tumbled much like Icarus. If you started reading this post thinking hubris in today’s society is dead and gone, all you need do is scan the daily headlines to find a world leader who suffers from massive hubris.
While it’s still rampant today, has it virtually disappeared in literature?
The Grammar Guide
What are you looking for?
Hubris
Do you remember the story of Icarus in Greek mythology? His father fashioned wings for him out of feathers and wax to help him escape from Crete. Warned by his father not to fly too close to the sea or the sun, Icarus started off fine. Then hubris got the better of him, and he flew too close to the sun. The wax melted, and Icarus plunged to his death in the sea.
What is Hubris?
Hubris is that all-consuming pride that leads a protagonist to think he is better than anyone else. He feels the rules don’t apply to him, which leads to his ultimate downfall. LiteraryDevices.net describes hubris as:
“a typical flaw in the personality of a character who enjoys a powerful position; as a result of which, he overestimates his capabilities to such an extent that he loses contact with reality. A character suffering from hubris tries to cross normal human limits, and violates moral codes.”
Shakespeare was fond of hubris. Consider Macbeth, perhaps the greatest example of an astonishing amount of hubris. His over-inflated ego eventually destroys him and everyone around him. As Shakespeare writes, “Let not light see my black and deep desires”: Macbeth knows the lay of the land, but he’ll still do anything to serve his ambitions.
Who here remembers Mel Gibson’s abhorrent fall from grace? Or how about the American demi-god Tiger Woods? He tumbled much like Icarus. If you started reading this post thinking hubris in today’s society is dead and gone, all you need do is scan the daily headlines to find a world leader who suffers from massive hubris.
While it’s still rampant today, has it virtually disappeared in literature?
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Examples of Hubris in Literature
Here are a few twentieth-century and current examples to mull over.
The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby is a dichotomy of humility and hubris. He doesn’t forget his humble beginnings, yet he uses his position of power and wealth to entice Daisy into an affair, the downfall of which costs him his life.
Things Fall Apart
Another excellent example of a modern-day Macbeth, Chinua Achebe’s Okonkwo is extremely arrogant and full of himself. Even after his exile, he’s still plotting ways to rise to power again. He dreams of coming back bigger and better than ever: “Okonkwo saw clearly the high esteem in which he would be held, and he saw himself taking the highest title in the land.”
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a figure of speech where ideas are exaggerated for the sake of emphasis.
For instance, if you have a fever, you might say something like, My body feels like it’s on fire!
Your body isn’t actually on fire, but the use of hyperbole helps illustrate your point – you feel terrible!
Here are some other examples of hyperbole:
Idioms
What is an idiom?
Idioms are phrases that have a different figurative meaning than the actual literal meaning of the words placed together.
For instance, He’s in hot water doesn’t literally mean that someone is in hot water. Rather, it figuratively means that they’re in trouble.
Likewise, We’re in the same boat doesn’t actually mean that two people are in a boat together. It means that they’re in the same situation.
Metaphors
A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes something (an object or an action) in a way that isn’t literally true, but uses comparison or symbolism to describe something. Metaphors are a great way to add more color to your writing!
Metaphors show up all over the place, especially in poetry and literature. They help writing come alive and can enhance your work by creating vivid imagery.
Here are three popular examples of metaphors:
In this metaphor, love is compared to a battlefield. This simple phrase shows that love can be very challenging – even deadly!
Metonymy
The word metonymy comes from the Greek word metōnymia which means “a change of name.” It’s a figure of speech that uses a related word to refer to something much larger. When you say, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” pen refers to the written word as a whole.
Consider how “the Crown” refers to a monarchy, while “the White House” refers to the Executive Branch of the US government.
You may wonder why use metonymy? Because it’s a more poetic way to give meaning and substance to words, making them burst into life. When you describe simple, ordinary things in such a creative way, you imbue your work with life, making readers consider your more profound meaning. Common objects and ideas suddenly become interesting and compelling.
Onomatopoeia
“Onomatopoeia” is a term used for words that sound like the thing they’re describing.
Examples of Onomatopoeia
Here are our favorite onomatopoeic words:
Oxymoron
Good grief. Crash landing. Cheerful pessimist.
These words are examples of oxymorons. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two words with contradictory meanings are placed side-by-side. Take “good grief.” Grief isn’t traditionally thought of as good, so the words are a paradox.
Some oxymorons are so common that you might not even realize they’re inherently contradictory. For instance, if you’ve ever replied to a party invitation with, “I’m a definite maybe,” then you’re using an oxymoron.
What is a simile?
A great story is like the prize in a Cracker Jack box: you never know what you’re going to get, but it’s going to be fun finding out.
That was a simile comparing a story to the prize everyone looks forward to in the Cracker Jack box. You could use the following simile to evoke a different meaning and emotion to the same concept:
A disappointing story can be like the surprise hidden in the box of cereal: you stick with it to the very end, only to find a cheap plastic trinket.
Why you should use similes.
Similes can be found in all types of writing, from journalism to fiction to advertising. They’re creative ways to bring more attention and clarity to your meaning than straight narrative.
If you want to give your reader a thoughtful mental image while they’re reading, a simile is a great place to start. When you compare your main character to an animal or even an inanimate object like a giant sequoia, you’re exposing your reader to another way of looking at something that’s fresh and new.
Synecdoche part of the figurative language family, which includes figures of speech such as metaphors, similes, personification, etc. It’s when you use a part of the whole of something to refer to the object. For example, everyone knows if you tell someone to check out your new wheels, you’re referring to the car as a whole. The wheels, a part of the car, are representing the whole.
Using synecdoche is an interesting way to transform an everyday term into something thought-provoking. But sometimes it gets confused with another figurative language device, metonymy.
Synecdoche is another tool or device writers can use to describe the mundane and the ordinary in a creative, fresh way. And the next time you hear “boards” to describe the theater stage, you can tell everyone within earshot that’s a synecdoche.
Tautology
Tautology is a literary device whereby writers say the same thing twice, sometimes using different words, to emphasize or drive home a point. It can be seen as redundancy, a style fault that adds needless words to your idea, statement, or content; or it can be defended as poetic license. Let’s look at what makes tautology acceptable or utterly unacceptable.
Types of tautology
Orators, writers, and others strategically use tautology in everyday life, when writing poetry, literature, or song lyrics, and even in debates. Each scenario has a different reason to use tautology. Here are the most common reasons people use this literary device:
Sometimes, however, tautology results from an inexperienced, unskilled speaker or writer.
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