The Island of Doctor Moreau is a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells published in 1896. The novel is narrated by Edward Prendick, a shipwrecked man who ends up on an island home of Doctor Moreau, a mad scientist who performs vivisection to create human-like hybrid beings from animals. The story deals with themes such …
Examples of Allegories
“The Minister’s Black Veil” is a short story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1836. It is a parable about the human tendency to hide our true selves and the consequences that can result from this. The story is set in a small Puritan town in New England and follows the reactions of the townspeople to …
The Castle of Crossed Destinies is an allegorical novel written by Italo Calvino. The book was published in 1973 and is divided into two parts, each using a different style of tarot deck. The novel is a series of short fantastic tales that explore themes of destiny, free will, and the human condition. Calvino’s use …
“Schindler’s List” is a critically acclaimed American epic historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 1993. The film is based on the novel “Schindler’s Ark” by Thomas Keneally, which tells the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved more than a thousand Jewish refugees from the Holocaust by employing …
John Gardner’s “Grendel” is a novel that explores the life and psyche of the titular character. The book offers a unique perspective on the Old English tale of Beowulf by narrating the story from the viewpoint of the monstrous Grendel. The novel dives into the existential angst of Grendel, exploring his isolation and encounters with …
“The Invention of Morel” is a novella written by Adolfo Bioy Casares. This book is a fascinating allegory that has been widely discussed and analyzed by literary critics. The story follows a man who is stranded on an island and becomes obsessed with a group of people who repeatedly appear and disappear. The novella has …
The Blind Owl is a novel written by Sadegh Hedayat, one of the most celebrated modern writers in Persian literature. The book was first published in 1937 and has since gained international recognition for its unique narrative style and exploration of themes such as love, death, and existential dread. The story is narrated by an …
Stephen Crane’s “The Red Badge of Courage” is a classic novel that has been read and analyzed by countless students and scholars. The novel is set during the American Civil War and follows the story of Henry Fleming, a young soldier who is struggling with fear and doubt as he faces the realities of war. …
“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” is a play written by Tom Stoppard that premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 1966. The play is a retelling of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” from the perspective of two minor characters, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The play has been praised for its clever wit, deep philosophical musings, and seamless intertwining of the …
“The Ocean at the End of the Lane” is a 2013 novel by British author Neil Gaiman, which has been the subject of much critical acclaim and literary analysis. The book tells the story of an unnamed man who returns to his hometown for a funeral and remembers events that began forty years earlier. Gaiman’s …