allegory

allegory — 名詞

1. A tale, film, painting, or dramatic work where the people, things, and events ca

1.名詞B2
釋義

寓言；寓意

人物與事件象徵抽象理念的敘事作品

A tale, film, painting, or dramatic work where the people, things, and events carry a hidden meaning — each one points to a moral, spiritual, or political idea beneath the surface story.

例句

Animal Farm is a famous allegory where farm animals represent figures from the Russian Revolution.

《動物農莊》是一部著名的寓言，書中的農場動物代表了俄國革命中的各方人物。

famous allegory

A volunteer read a medieval allegory and asked the children what each character stood for.

一位志工為孩子們讀了一部中世紀的寓言故事，並問他們每個角色代表什麼。

medieval allegory

同義詞
  • parable

    shorter, simpler story with a single moral lesson, often from religious teaching

  • fable

    brief tale, often with animal characters, that ends with an explicit moral

  • myth

    traditional story explaining natural or cultural phenomena, not necessarily invented for a moral purpose

文法句型

allegory + of + [abstract idea]

allegory + about + [topic]

用法筆記

Distinguish from metaphor: a metaphor is a single comparison, whereas an allegory builds a system of symbolic meanings across an entire narrative or artwork.

常見錯誤

❌The dove is an allegory of peace.
✅The dove is a symbol of peace; it appears in an allegory about peace.
💡A single image is a symbol, not an allegory. An allegory requires a story or extended work.

2. The technique of conveying deep ideas about life, society, or human nature by cr

2.名詞C1
釋義

寓意手法

用象徵人物與情節間接表達理念的手法

The technique of conveying deep ideas about life, society, or human nature by creating characters, objects, and events that stand for something else — rather than stating the message directly.

例句

Medieval poets often relied on allegory to discuss religious themes without offending church authorities.

中世紀詩人經常借助寓意手法來討論宗教議題，而不直接觸犯教會權威。

relied on allegory to discuss

The author's use of allegory allowed her to explore political corruption through a fictional kingdom.

作者運用寓意手法，透過一個虛構的王國來探討政治腐敗。

use of allegory

同義詞
  • symbolism

    broader term; symbolism can appear in a single image, while allegory requires extended narrative

  • figurative language

    umbrella term for all non-literal expression, including metaphor, simile, and allegory

文法句型

use of allegory

allegory + allows / enables

用法筆記

Common in academic and literary-critical writing where the definite article signals the technique rather than a specific work — e.g. 'the role of allegory in medieval drama'.

常見錯誤

❌The author writes allegory well.
✅The author uses allegory effectively.
💡'Allegory' as a technique is uncountable; style or skill is expressed with 'use of allegory'.

3. An object or image that, within a specific narrative, artwork, or symbolic syste

3.名詞C1
釋義

寓意象徵

敘事或藝術作品中充當寓意載體的物體或形象

An object or image that, within a specific narrative, artwork, or symbolic system, functions as part of an allegorical representation of an abstract idea — unlike a standalone symbol, it relies on the surrounding context to carry its meaning.

例句

In the mural the shattered chain is an allegory of freedom after years of oppression.

在那幅壁畫中，斷裂的鎖鏈是經過多年壓迫後重獲自由的寓意象徵。

an allegory of freedom

The white lotus flower serves as an allegory of spiritual purity in many Buddhist traditions.

白色蓮花在許多佛教傳統中被視為靈性純淨的寓意象徵。

serves as an allegory of

同義詞
  • emblem

    a concrete object that visually represents a nation, group, or idea; often simpler and more iconic than an allegory

  • symbol

    the most general term; a symbol can be a single image, while an allegory in this sense implies a more deliberate, explained representation

文法句型

an allegory of + [abstract concept]

用法筆記

Distinguish from 'symbol': a symbol (like a dove for peace) works independently, whereas this sense of allegory depends on the allegorical context — the object gains its meaning from its role inside a larger story, painting, or ritual system, not from a fixed cultural association.