allegorizes
Tells through symbols
Allegorizes means to interpret something as allegory or to express something in allegorical form.
A critic might allegorize a film, finding symbolic meanings beneath its surface narrative: She allegorizes the monster as capitalism devouring the working class.
A writer allegorizes by constructing stories where characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral principles.
Stands for abstractly
- representsStands in for
- embodiesManifests in form
- personifiesRepresents as human
- typifiesRepresents a class perfectly
signifies · stands for · conveys · expresses · denotes · illustrates · mirrors · reflects
Moral tale with animals
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- morality taleStory conveying ethical instruction
- exemplumIllustrative moral anecdote
apologue · cautionary tale · folklore · Aesop · Bunyan · Orwell · Kafka · C.S. Lewis
Symbolic rather than literal
- symbolicRepresenting through signs
- emblematicServing as a symbol
- representativeOne who acts for another
- allusiveContaining indirect references
Implicit meaning beneath words
- connotationImplied sense, not dictionary
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
- undercurrentFlow beneath the surface
- nuanceSlight shade of difference
undertone · hidden meaning · veiled meaning · coded message · encrypted · layered · decodes · unpacks
Moral goodness or merit
- viceBad habit or deputy
- sinViolation of divine law
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
salvation · justice · truth · wisdom · folly · innocence · corruption · righteousness
symbolizes
Stands for abstractly
- representsStands in for
- embodiesManifests in form
- personifiesRepresents as human
typifies · signifies · stands for · conveys · expresses · denotes · illustrates · mirrors · reflects · encodes
fable
Moral tale with animals
- parableInstructive allegorical narrative
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- morality taleStory conveying ethical instruction
exemplum · apologue · cautionary tale · folklore · Aesop · Bunyan · Orwell · Kafka · C.S. Lewis · Animal Farm
metaphorical
Symbolic rather than literal
- symbolicRepresenting through signs
- emblematicServing as a symbol
- representativeOne who acts for another
allusive · suggestive · analogous · comparative · extended metaphor
subtext
Implicit meaning beneath words
- connotationImplied sense, not dictionary
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
- undercurrentFlow beneath the surface
nuance · undertone · hidden meaning · veiled meaning · coded message · encrypted · layered · decodes · unpacks · reveals
virtue
Moral goodness or merit
- viceBad habit or deputy
- sinViolation of divine law
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
redemption · salvation · justice · truth · wisdom · folly · innocence · corruption · righteousness · didactic
allegorizesdocuments
Formal written records
chronicles · records · spells out · recounts · transcribes
allegorizessimplifies
Makes less complex
clarifies · demystifies · unpacks · decodes · lays bare