allegorisk

Allegorisk is an adjective used in Swedish to describe something that employs allegory. In English, the corresponding term is allegorical. An allegorisk work conveys a secondary, symbolic meaning that operates on a level beyond the literal surface.

Etymology: The term derives from the concept of allegory, from Latin allegoria, ultimately from Greek allégorein or allēgoría, meaning to speak otherwise, or to reveal hidden meanings through symbols.

Definition and scope: Allegorisk describes narratives, images, or scenes in which persons, events, and details function as symbols that represent abstract ideas such as moral, political, or spiritual truths. It typically involves an extended narrative rather than a single emblem, and the symbolic layer persists throughout the work.

Usage: Allegorisk works are common in literature, religious instruction, political critique, and visual arts. They may aim to instruct, warn, or persuade by using familiar symbols—such as animals, personified virtues and vices, or imagined realms—to critique real-world issues without direct assertion.

Examples: In literature, George Orwell's Animal Farm is a canonical allegory of totalitarianism and Soviet communism; Plato's Allegory of the Cave presents a philosophical allegory about reality and knowledge; John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress is a Christian allegory of the Christian life. In art, medieval morality plays frequently employed allegory to teach ethical lessons.

Distinctions and notes: Allegory differs from allegorical symbolism that may appear in a work but does not sustain an entire narrative as a parallel meaning. It is also distinct from mere metaphor or symbol, which can appear briefly rather than as an extended framework.