English Literature GCSE
Allegory
What Allegory means in English Literature GCSE, as defined for Eduqas, OCR, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Allegory
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
A story in which characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation. *Lord of the Flies* is an allegory for the conflict between civilisation and savagery in human society.
A story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation. *A Christmas Carol* is an allegory for social redemption.
A narrative in which characters, events, and details represent abstract ideas or moral qualities. 'Nettles' is an allegory for the unwinnable war parents fight against life's inevitable pains.
A story that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
A story where characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral/political concepts.
Topics that use Allegory
- Hawk Roosting (Eduqas GCSE)
- A Christmas Carol (OCR GCSE)
- Lord of the Flies (OCR GCSE)
- Nettles (OCR GCSE)
- Animal Farm (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Lord of the Flies (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Post-1914 Prose or Drama (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- Juxtaposition
- Cyclical Structure
- Deus ex machina
- Satire
- Totalitarianism
- Propaganda
- AO1 (Assessment Objective 1)
- AO2 (Assessment Objective 2)
Using Allegory in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
Practise English Literature questions
Create a free account to answer exam-style questions on this topic and get feedback on your answers.
Start free
All English Literature GCSE terms7 days Premium · Then free forever · No card, no charge