“In the simplest terms, allegory says one thing and means another” (Fletcher 2). Allegory is a literary tool used by authors to convey a certain message or idea through characters acting in a story. Angus Fletcher correctly assesses the nature of allegory, showing that although an author may write a story about a man completing a literal journey, it may well imply a much grander idea of the journey through life. Anne Page shares a similar understanding of allegory, writing that “Allegory, whether engaged in reading or writing, is about the creation of meaning, meaning that is ideological, ethical, or theological” (Page 82). Jesus himself used allegory in his parables, to make the great celestial concepts accessible to all. This is a common use of allegory, which reduces the grand scheme to an understandable level. “Creative allegory uses a highly generalized form to cover a breadth of historical content that is believed to exceed the limits of any more naturalistic method” (Lindsay 177). Two examples of allegory are John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Dante's Inferno. Both tell the story of a man on a journey, Christian to heaven and Dante through hell. The use of allegory in each of these works is extensive; one of the most obvious is that of names. Dante and Bunyan use naming as one of the most obvious ways to communicate big concepts; however, the ways in which they use this type of allegory differ greatly. “The heroes of Dante… and Bunyan seem to create the worlds around them. They are like those people in real life who 'project,' attributing fictitious personalities to those they meet and live with” (Fletcher 35). The characters of Dante and Bunyan, through their names, c...... in the center of the sheet ...... depict some aspects of their future character. The most striking example of naming in the Bible is the name of Jesus or Immanuel, which means God with us. Authors also use names to direct readers' attention to a certain aspect of that character. They often use this tactic in allegory, saying one thing and meaning another. When they name a character they imply more than just a name by which to recognize him. They intend to expose the character's behavior or struggles. Dante and Bunyan both use this tactic in their works, The Inferno and The Pilgrim's Progress. Dante names his characters with specific historical names that readers of his time would recognize and attribute attributes to them. Bunyan names his characters after their own attributes. Each approach has advantages and weaknesses, but both are effective examples of the use of naming in allegorical writing.
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