“The Man Who Was Thursday” is a novel published in 1908 by G.K. Chesterton. This novel is known for its complex allegorical themes and has been widely studied and interpreted by literary scholars. The novel follows the story of Gabriel Syme, who is recruited by Scotland Yard to join a secret anti-anarchist police corps. Chesterton’s …
Examples of Allegories
“The Ascent of F6” is a play written by W.H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood, first published in 1936. The play centers around the character of Michael Ransom, a scholar and man of action, who leads an expedition up F6, a mountain peak on the border between Britain and a fictitious nation of Ostnia. The play …
“The White People” by Arthur Machen is a horror short story that has been described as an important example of horror fiction, influencing generations of later writers. The story follows the journey of a young girl who stumbles upon a strange brook that leads her into a bizarre valley populated by heavy thickets and carved …
Miss Julie is a play written by August Strindberg, which was first performed in 1888. The play has been a subject of analysis and interpretation for over a century, with many scholars examining the allegorical elements of the play. The play is set on Midsummer’s Eve, and it explores the themes of class, gender, and …
“The Ghost Map” by Steven Johnson is a non-fiction book that tells the story of one of the most terrifying epidemics in London during the mid-19th century. The book centers on the outbreak of cholera and how it changed science, cities, and the modern world. Johnson uses London as a symbol for how a lack …
Jean Giono’s “The Man Who Planted Trees” is a classic allegorical tale that has captured the hearts of readers around the world. The story follows the journey of a shepherd named Elzéard Bouffier who, through his tireless efforts, transforms a barren valley into a lush forest. Although the story is a work of fiction, it …
Juan Rulfo’s novel “Pedro Páramo” is a masterpiece of Mexican literature that has been widely celebrated for its allegorical nature. The novel tells the story of Juan Preciado, who travels to the town of Comala to meet his father, Pedro Páramo, only to find a ghost town filled with spectral characters. The novel is known …
“The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect” is a novella written by Roger Williams, a programmer from New Orleans, in 1994. The story deals with the consequences of a superintelligent computer that gains god-like powers to alter reality while studying quantum physics. The book is a thought-provoking exploration of the technological singularity and its impact on humanity. …
“The Little Match Girl” is a short story written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1845. It tells the story of a poor young girl who tries to sell matches on the streets on a cold New Year’s Eve. Despite her efforts, she fails to sell any matches, and she is too afraid to return home …
Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse is a classic novel that explores the themes of identity, alienation, and the search for meaning in life. The novel tells the story of Harry Haller, a middle-aged man who is plagued by a sense of dislocation and despair. He feels like he doesn’t fit in with the rest of society …