“The Paper Menagerie” is a short story written by Ken Liu that has been widely praised for its allegorical elements. The story follows the life of Jack, a first-generation American son of a white American father and a Chinese immigrant mail-order bride mother. Throughout the story, Jack struggles to come to terms with his mixed …
Examples of Allegories
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket is the only complete novel written by the renowned American author, Edgar Allan Poe. The novel was published in 1838 and tells the story of a young man named Arthur Gordon Pym, who stows away aboard a whaling ship called the Grampus. Throughout the novel, Pym experiences …
William Goldman’s “The Princess Bride” is a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of readers and viewers alike. The novel is a romantic fantasy adventure that tells the story of a young woman named Buttercup, who is kidnapped by a group of outlaws, and her true love, Westley, who sets out to rescue her. …
Orhan Pamuk’s “The Museum of Innocence” is a captivating novel that takes place in Istanbul between 1975 and 1984. The book tells the story of a wealthy businessman named Kemal and his love affair with a distant relative, Füsun. As the two fall deeper in love, Kemal becomes obsessed with Füsun and begins to collect …
Arundhati Roy’s novel, “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness“, is a complex and layered work that explores the political and social landscape of contemporary India. The novel follows the lives of several interconnected characters, whose stories are woven together to create a rich and intricate tapestry of life in India. At its heart, “The Ministry of …
“The Orphan Master’s Son” is a novel by Adam Johnson that tells the story of Pak Jun Do, a young man who lives in North Korea. The novel is a work of fiction, but it provides a unique insight into life in one of the world’s most secretive and oppressive regimes. The novel is an …
The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry is a classic novel that has been celebrated for its portrayal of small-town life in the early 1950s. Set in a desolate and decaying Texas town, the story follows a group of high school friends as they navigate the challenges of adolescence and the harsh realities of life …
Joe Hill’s “The Fireman” is a post-apocalyptic novel that tells the story of a deadly spore that has infected most of the world’s population. The novel is Hill’s fourth and was released on May 17, 2016. The story is set in the near future in New Hampshire and Maine, and it follows the tale of …
Eudora Welty’s “The Optimist’s Daughter” is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores the complexities of family relationships, grief, and the human condition. The novel tells the story of Laurel McKelva Hand, a young woman who returns to her hometown of Mount Salus, Mississippi, to care for her aging father after he undergoes eye surgery. As …
“The Knife of Never Letting Go” by Patrick Ness is a science fiction novel that explores the themes of coming of age, overcoming bigotry, and the power of language. The story follows Todd Hewitt, a 12-year-old boy who lives in a remote settlement of Prentisstown on a planet called the New World. Todd grows up …