Final answer:
An allegory is a literary work where characters, objects, and events represent abstract ideas. Through characters and plots, allegories explore important moral and philosophical concepts. Good literature is understood as exploring human intricacies beyond simple messages or morals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The literary work in which characters, objects, places, and actions are personifications of abstractions such as Good Deeds, Beauty, Vanity, or the journey to the Celestial kingdom is known as an allegory. In allegorical literature, characters often reflect abstract concepts, for instance, the character of Death in the medieval play 'Everyman' represents the actual moment of dying, and the main character, Everyman, represents humanity itself. Literature of this kind defines good or of lasting artistic merit based on its ability to explore complex themes related to the human condition, invoke profound emotional response, and ignite the reader's imagination, all while maintaining a cohesive structure.
In allegory, characters may be people, animals, divine beings, or personifications, and their actions typically embody larger moral and philosophical concepts. Naturalistic works, on the other hand, often represent characters as victims of environment or heredity, with plots that follow their decline. Good literature transcends simple messages, carrying multiple themes and presenting the intricacies of human existence. Therefore, its analysis is considered an inherently valuable enterprise, as it attempts to convey truths about the world.