Question

Which of the following descriptions are examples of allegory? Choose 2 correct answers.

a. The poem The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyon is both an entertaining travel story and a representation of a person's spiritual journey.
b. Arthur Miller's play The Crucible is literally about the Salem witch trials but figuratively about the McCarthy era in U.S. history.
c. The novel Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor deals with the ideas of religious faith as well as lack of faith.
d. Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart is a suspenseful story that reveals the main character's insanity through his actions and beliefs.

Answer 1

The examples of allegory in the list provided are 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyon, representing a spiritual journey, and Arthur Miller's play 'The Crucible,' which is a commentary on the McCarthy era. Both of these offer deeper meanings beyond their literal narratives.

Step-by-step explanation:

An allegory is a narrative where characters and events symbolize larger themes and ideas, offering a dual meaning on both the surface level and in a more profound, often moral, political, or spiritual sense. In your question, the two descriptions that are examples of allegory are:

1. The poem The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyon, which serves as an allegory for a person's spiritual journey while also being an engaging travel narrative.
2. Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, which on the surface is about the Salem witch trials but is also a commentary on the McCarthy era, with characters and events symbolizing the dangerous hysteria of that time.

Both of these works extend beyond their literal contexts to offer insights on the human condition and broader societal issues, aligning well with the characteristics of allegorical literature.