“The Ones Who Stay and Fight” is a short story written by N.K. Jemisin. It is a part of the collection of stories titled “How Long ’til Black Future Month?” The story is an allegory that explores the concept of utopia and dystopia. It is set in the city of Um-Helat, where the citizens have …
Examples of Allegories
“The Mysterious Anxiety of Them and Us” is a stoku written by Ben Okri, a Nigerian novelist and poet. This allegory explores the theme of inequality and the struggle between the privileged and the less fortunate. The stoku is a combination of story and haiku, and it has captivated readers with its powerful message. The …
“The Little Red Hen Tells All” is a short story by Margaret Atwood that is a modern retelling of the classic children’s story “The Little Red Hen.” The story is an allegory that teaches a powerful lesson about the importance of hard work and personal initiative. In Atwood’s version, the hen reveals her thoughts and …
“The Empty Drum” is a short story by Leo Tolstoy, first published in 1891. The story is based on a Russian folk tale, and it tells the story of a laborer and his wife who are treated unjustly by the king. The story has been analyzed and interpreted in various ways, and it is often …
A Dark Brown Dog is a short story by Stephen Crane, published in 1893. The story has been interpreted as an allegory for the African-American population’s struggle for freedom after the American Civil War. The story follows the relationship between a young boy and a dark brown dog as they navigate the challenges of living …
A Day Goes By by Luigi Pirandello is a short story that has been widely studied and analyzed by literary scholars. The story follows an unnamed man who wakes up on a train with no memory of who he is or where he is going. As the story progresses, the man encounters various characters who …
“The Three Hermits” is a short story written by the renowned Russian author, Leo Tolstoy. The story follows a bishop’s encounter with three hermits who live on a remote island. The bishop is curious about the hermits’ way of life and decides to pay them a visit. Through his conversation with the hermits, the bishop …
The Bound Man is a socio-political allegory that explores the dichotomy between capitalism and socialism. It portrays the varying degrees of freedom juxtaposed to equality in each system; capitalism leans strongly towards freedom while socialism leans towards equality. The story highlights the struggle between the proprietor and the bound man, which represents the struggle between …
An Extinct Angel is a short story written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It was first published in 1926 in the magazine Good Housekeeping. The story is an allegory that explores the nature of angels and their relationship with humans. The story is about a species of angels that once inhabited the planet but have since …
“A Hunger Artist” is a short story written by Franz Kafka, which was first published in 1922. The story revolves around a man who is known only as “the hunger artist” and his travels from town to town with his manager, the impresario. The story is often interpreted as an allegory for the modern world’s …