“The Mirror of Her Dreams” by Stephen R. Donaldson is a fascinating allegory that has captured the imagination of readers for decades. The novel is set in a world where mirrors are magical and hold the deadliest of magics. The story follows the adventures of Terisa Morgan, a young woman who discovers that she has …
Types of Allegories
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel is a historical novel that has garnered critical acclaim and numerous literary awards. The novel is set in the 16th century and revolves around the life of Thomas Cromwell, a statesman and advisor to King Henry VIII. While the novel is a work of historical fiction, it also contains elements …
Wittgenstein’s Mistress by David Markson is a highly stylized, experimental novel that has been described as a masterpiece of modern literature. The novel is mainly a series of statements made in the first person, with the protagonist being a woman named Kate who believes herself to be the last human on earth. The novel is …
The Iron Dream by Norman Spinrad is a science fiction novel that tells the story of a post-apocalyptic adventure tale entitled Lord of the Swastika. The novel was published in 1972 and has a nested narrative that tells a story within a story. On the surface, it presents an alternate-history Adolf Hitler who wrote the …
White Acre vs. Black Acre is an allegorical novel written by William M. Burwell in 1856. The novel is set in the United States and presents the history of slavery in North America as a trial between the North and South. The North is represented by White Acre, while the South is represented by Black …
Hot House Flowers is a children’s book written by John H. Wilson, a Brooklyn criminal court judge. The book is an allegory that compares illegal immigration to dandelions that overrun a greenhouse. Wilson self-published the book and illustrated it with Marina Tsesarkaya’s drawings. The plot of the book revolves around a dandelion from outside a …
The Vegetarian, written by Han Kang, is a novel that has captured the attention of readers worldwide. The book, published in 2007, is a story of a woman named Yeong-hye who decides to become a vegetarian. The novel is divided into three parts, each narrated by a different character, and explores themes such as mental …
Sangō Shiiki is a dialectic allegory written by Kūkai in 797. It compares and critiques Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, making it Japan’s oldest comparative ideological critique. Kūkai wrote this debut work when he was only 24 years old, showcasing his literary talent and his understanding of the three teachings. In Sangō Shiiki, Kūkai discusses the …
Hiram Abiff is a central character in the allegory presented to all candidates during the third degree in Freemasonry. He is presented as the chief architect of King Solomon’s Temple, and his story is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. According to legend, Hiram is murdered inside the temple by three ruffians after they failed to …
The Metamorphoses by Ovid is a classic work of literature that has been studied and analyzed for centuries. The poem is a collection of myths and legends from Greek and Roman antiquity, each involving a transformation of some kind. The work is divided into fifteen books and contains over 250 individual stories, ranging from the …