Which term refers to a narrative with symbolic meaning intended to critique or comment on society?

• A. Allusion
• B. Allegory
• C. Metaphor
• D. Irony

Answer: (B)

Allegory describes a narrative in which surface details—characters, events, and settings—function as symbols that stand for a deeper moral, political, or social meaning beyond the literal story. This structure lets a writer critique society by personifying abstract ideas and showing how they play out within a fictional world. For example, an animal-filled tale can critique totalitarianism by representing human political dynamics through its animal characters and plot, while also delivering a moral about governance or power. This goes beyond a simple reference to another work (an allusion), a single figurative statement (a metaphor), or a contrast between expectation and outcome (irony); allegory builds a sustained symbolic system aimed at social commentary.