“The Walrus and the Carpenter” is a narrative poem by Lewis Carroll that appears in his book Through the Looking-Glass. The poem is recited in chapter four, by Tweedledum and Tweedledee to Alice. The poem is an example of Victorian “nonsense” verse, and its precise meaning remains elusive. However, many literary critics have interpreted it …
Examples of Allegories
Jorge Luis Borges’ “Labyrinths” is a collection of short stories and essays that explores the complexities of human existence through the use of allegory. Borges, who is considered one of the most important writers of short fiction in the history of Latino literature, used the symbol of the labyrinth to represent the many different paths …
Zootopia is a 2016 animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The movie tells the story of a young rabbit named Judy Hopps who dreams of becoming a police officer in the city of Zootopia, where animals of all species live together in harmony. However, when she finally achieves her goal, she discovers that …
Our Town by Thornton Wilder is a classic play that explores the everyday lives of the residents of Grover’s Corners, a small fictional town in New Hampshire. The play, first performed in 1938, is known for breaking new ground in the theater world with its simple setting, absence of props, and direct address to the …
Andrei Tarkovsky’s “The Mirror” is a 1975 Soviet drama film that is loosely autobiographical, unconventionally structured, and incorporates poems composed and read by the director’s father, Arseny Tarkovsky. The film features Margarita Terekhova, Ignat Daniltsev, Alla Demidova, Anatoly Solonitsyn, Tarkovsky’s wife Larisa Tarkovskaya, and his mother. The film is considered one of Tarkovsky’s most personal …
“American Psycho” by Bret Easton Ellis is a novel that has been both praised and criticized for its graphic violence and disturbing content. However, beneath the surface, the book is a complex allegory that explores themes of consumerism, narcissism, and the corrupting influence of power. The story follows the life of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy …
Fight Club is a 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk that was adapted into a film in 1999 by director David Fincher. The story follows the unnamed narrator, played by Edward Norton in the film, as he struggles with insomnia and a lack of fulfillment in his life. He eventually finds solace in attending support groups …
“The Golden Bough” is a comprehensive study of mythology, religion, and magic, written by Sir James George Frazer. The book was first published in 1890, and it has since become one of the most influential works in the field of anthropology. Frazer’s goal was to discover the mystery behind the Golden Bough and the King …
Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea is a novel that has been widely studied and analyzed for its allegorical significance. The book, which was published in 1966, is a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, and tells the story of Antoinette Cosway, a Creole woman who becomes the madwoman in the attic in Bronte’s classic. Many …
The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, first published in 1925. The novel is set in the roaring twenties, a period of great economic growth and cultural change in America. The story follows the life of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious and wealthy man who throws extravagant parties in hopes of winning …