C.S. Lewis’s “The Great Divorce” is a classic allegorical tale that explores the concept of the afterlife and the consequences of the choices made during one’s lifetime. The story is set in a purgatorial state, where the souls of the deceased are given a chance to redeem themselves and move on to Heaven or descend …
Types of Allegories
Absalom, Absalom! is a novel by William Faulkner that has been widely regarded as one of the greatest works of American literature. The novel tells the story of Thomas Sutpen, a man who comes to Jefferson, Mississippi, in the early 1800s and builds an empire on the backs of slaves and the exploitation of the …
Jacob’s Room is a novel by Virginia Woolf that was first published in 1922. The novel is known for its unique narrative style and its use of allegory to explore complex themes. In the novel, Woolf tells the story of Jacob Flanders, a young man whose life is presented through the impressions of other characters. …
“The Truman Show” is a film that has captivated audiences since its release in 1998. Directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey, the film tells the story of Truman Burbank, a man who discovers that his entire life has been a television show. As Truman begins to unravel the truth about his life, he …
Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a classic piece of German literature that has stood the test of time. It is a two-part play that tells the story of a man named Faust who makes a deal with the devil in exchange for knowledge and power. The play is filled with symbolism and allegory, …
Being There is a satirical novel by Jerzy Kosinski that was published in 1971. The novel tells the story of a simple gardener named Chance who has never left the estate where he works. Chance’s world is limited to what he has seen on television, and his life changes when he is forced to leave …
Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal” is a Swedish film that was released in 1957. The film is set in Denmark during the Black Death and follows the journey of a medieval knight named Antonius Block, who is played by Max von Sydow. The film is known for its use of allegory and symbolism to explore …
“The Man in the High Castle” by Philip K. Dick is a novel that explores alternative history. It depicts a world wherein the Axis Powers won World War II, and Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany rule the partitioned United States. The story is set in 1962, fifteen years after the end of the war in …
“The Glass Bead Game” is a novel by Hermann Hesse that explores the themes of enlightenment, the quest for knowledge, and the synthesis of intellectual and active life. Set in the 23rd century, the novel follows the life of Joseph Knecht, a gifted student who rises through the ranks of the intellectual elite to become …
Metropolis, a 1927 German expressionist film directed by Fritz Lang, is a cinematic masterpiece that has influenced science fiction and dystopian films for decades. The film is set in a futuristic city-state, where the wealthy elite live in luxury above ground while the working-class toil in the depths of the city. Metropolis is a story …