Triumphs by Petrarch is a collection of poems that was written in the 14th century. The poems are written in the Tuscan language, and they evoke the ancient Roman ceremony of triumph. This ceremony involved victorious generals and their armies being led in procession by the captives and spoils they had taken in war. The …
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Christine de Pisan’s “The Treasure of the City of Ladies” is a manual of education for women of all social classes. Completed in 1405, the book is a continuation of her previous work, “The Book of the City of Ladies,” which introduced the concept of a city of women who were virtuous and knowledgeable. In …
Wisdom is one of the earliest surviving medieval morality plays. It is part of a collection of early English moralities known as “The Macro Plays,” which also includes Mankind and The Castle of Perseverance. As an allegory, Wisdom enacts the struggle between good and evil, depicting Christ personified in the character of Wisdom. The play …
Karel Čapek’s “War with the Newts” is a satirical science fiction novel that explores themes of exploitation, colonization, and the consequences of unchecked technological progress. First published in 1936, the book is a biting commentary on various political and social issues, using the premise of an unlikely war between humans and a race of intelligent …
White Acre vs. Black Acre is an allegorical novel written by William M. Burwell in 1856. The novel is set in the United States and presents the history of slavery in North America as a trial between the North and South. The North is represented by White Acre, while the South is represented by Black …
Henry James’s “The Turn of the Screw” is a classic ghost story that has fascinated readers for over a century. The novella was first published in 1898 and has since become one of James’s most popular works. The story follows a governess who is hired to care for two young children at a remote country …
René Daumal’s “A Night of Serious Drinking” is a classic work of symbolic fiction. It was published in 1938 and has since become one of Daumal’s most important literary works. The novel is an allegory that takes the reader on a journey through the absurdities of intellectual society. The book’s protagonist is an unnamed narrator …
Our Twisted Hero by Yi Munyol is a political allegory that explores the transition from dictatorship to democracy in South Korea. The novel follows Han Pyongt’ae, a twelve-year-old boy who moves to a rural town with his family and becomes embroiled in a power struggle within his classroom. At its core, the novel is a …
Mankind is an English medieval morality play that was written around 1470. It is considered a moral allegory about the human race and follows Mankind’s fall into sin and his eventual repentance. The author of the play is unknown, but the manuscript is signed by a monk named Hyngham, who is believed to have transcribed …
Merlin is a legendary figure who has been the subject of countless stories, poems, and plays throughout history. One of the most famous works about Merlin is the epic poem by Robert de Boron. Written in Old French in the late 12th or early 13th century, this poem tells the story of Merlin’s origin and …