GL+P2+The+Road+Allegory

__**ALLEGORY **__ 

__Aim __

Research compiled by Blaire Krakowitz.

The purpose of an allegory is to influence others by way of a message implied by the text. An allegory is described as “symbolic story that serves as a disguised representation for meanings other than those indicated on the surface” (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia 1). The message of an allegory is implied by the author rather than stated explicitly. Characters within an allegory learn a lesson or portray a message through the journey through which they partake. By not stating the message of the allegory explicitly, the author challenges the audience to contemplate the meaning of the text. Dante Alighieri published a series of poems known as //The Divine Comedy//, which served as an allegory for the imperfections of Christian doctrine. One analyzer notes that “Many sufferers in the //Inferno// get there on roads paved by their best intentions and most in Hell's upper reaches are not intentionally evil: Paolo and Francesca, the most memorable, who endlessly circle each other blown by hot winds in the circle of lust” (Whedon). The //Inferno// is the section of the divine comedy in which Dante’s character travels through Hell. Dante utilizes Hell and the punishment of sinners to portray both his own ideas of ethics and morality as well as the flaws in the doctrine of Christianity. He places the lustful in Hell for their sins despite the fact that feelings of love cannot be controlled by humans; however, they are placed in one of the higher circles of Hell, indicating that that sins of the lustful are not extremely severe. By doing so, Dante demonstrates the cruelty of Christian doctrine of punishing those such as Paolo and Francesca, who did not intend to commit sins, while simultaneously demonstrating their innocence through their comparative placement in Hell as well as his own pity for them. This message is not stated outright, but implied by the emotions and situations of the characters.

Citations: "Allegory." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition (2013): 1. Literary Reference Center. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. Whedon, Tony. "A Language Dark Enough: An Essay On Dante's Inferno." American Poetry Review 23.5 (1994): n. pag.. Literary Reference Center. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.

__Audience __ Research compiled by Natalie Marcantonio.

Allegories can have many different and inconstant audiences based on the example of the allegory. Mainly, the audience of allegories can consist of deep thinkers, students, educators, and adults. Since allegories are often narratives an additional audience are teenagers. One example of an allegory is The Lord of The Flies by William Golding. The story has both a literal and symbolic meaning, demonstrating itself as being an allegory based on the definition by The American Heritage Dictionary, "A literary, dramatic, or pictorial device in which each literal character, object, and event represents a symbol illustrating an idea or sensation"(The American Heritage Dictionary). The Lord of The Flies has a directed audience of students and teachers primarily. The symbolism of the boys becoming savage represents the animal nature that humans possess internally that is occasionally let loose. Within allegories there also can be a directed audience of people's viewpoints. Religious viewpoints can come into play, many humans of this day and age have Christian beliefs. The way they see the symbolic meaning of certain allegories; for example, //The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe// by C.S. Lewis has the character of Aslan, the lion. Many Christians see this character as a “Stand-in for Christ”, as a commonly student used website called Schmoop states on the topic of allegories (“Literature Glossary”). In conclusion, an allegory’s audience is based off of the plot of the allegorical narrative; showing the audience of an allegory is not always constant.

Citations: "Literature Glossary." Shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. . Berube, Margery. The American Heritage Dictionary Second College Edition. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1985. Print.

__Historical __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Research compiled by Kyra Stek.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%;">An allegory is a message hidden in text, paintings, music or other methods; this opens the door to historical interpretation. A critic states, “The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance” ("ALLEGORY").This can span a wide range of concepts, such as love, hate, greed, or anything that can actually be imagined in representation. Several works that are associated with allegories are //The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe//, //Lord of the Flies//, and //Animal Farm//. For example, //Animal Farm// portrays some animals, in an allegory, as Russian Revolution leaders. History can be made from these meanings, since they force the reader to think on a deeper level, one that isn’t too difficult to figure out. This makes the work more memorable, giving it more meaning than just something to read for leisure. If it teaches a lesson, then the book will have a greater chance of being remembered for its writing as well as the way it hid the meaning.

Citations: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%;">"ALLEGORY." ALLEGORY. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%;">"Allegory." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%;">Cultural __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Research compiled by Bethany Stewart.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%;">Cultural events are influenced by allegories in the way that they convey a message that they are are trying to express to the audience they are writing to. The Oxford American Dictionary defines a allegory as “a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning,” meaning that the “moral” taught by the author is meant to influence the choices and decisions of the audience (Ehrlich). The way an allegory is different from just a normal story or poem is that it has two levels of meaning. Beyond the basic meaning, the entire reason behind the second reason is to preach a lesson to its audience. An audience is more likely to think more deeply about a certain topic if there is more than just a basic level of meaning behind the words. Aesop's fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf is an example as an allegory that speaks to it’s audience. The shepherd-boy mislead the villagers so many times, that in the end they didn’t come to him. “There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth” (Aesop). Although this is just a child’s fable, the real meaning is given in a moral that really doesn’t have to do with the direct tale. Society is taught and grows up with allegories.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%;">Citations:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%;">Ehrlich, Eugene. "Allegory." Oxford American Dictionary. New York: Oxford UP, 1980. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 115%;">Aesop. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Short Stories. East of the Web, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.