Introduction

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ID: 318179
2026
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Abstract
Abstract ‘Allegory’ has been variously defined as a literary genre, a mode of interpretation, and a symbolic dimension to all language. As its etymological root of ‘other-speaking’ suggests, allegory arguably functions by means of a distinction between the surface level of communication and a further level or levels of significance beyond the surface. It has been broadly defined as saying one thing and meaning another (Angus Fletcher), although the binary nature of ‘allegorical parallelism’ (Carolynn Van Dyke) has been called into question in recent work. This Introduction highlights some of the debates surrounding the theory and practice of allegory through the centuries, such as whether the purpose of allegory is to reveal meaning or to conceal meaning from its audiences, and whether the aesthetic and didactic aspects of allegory support or obstruct each other. It also surveys the blurred boundaries between allegory and other forms of ‘other-speaking’ such as symbol, parable, and typology. The Introduction concludes by commenting on the current state of the field of allegory studies and mapping out the structure of the Handbook.
Reference Key
openalex_W7165568252 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors David Parry
Journal Oxford University Press eBooks
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192894359.013.0038
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192894359.013.0038
Keywords Keywords not found

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