Allegory-Analogy | Commonly Confused Words
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Allegory vs. Analogy

Allegory

/ˈæləɡəri/
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning.

Examples:

The film served as an allegory for modern society’s disconnect.Through allegory, the poem revealed deeper spiritual truths.His book uses allegory to criticize political systems.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Analogy

/əˈnælədʒi/
A comparison between two things that are similar in some way, usually to explain a concept

Examples:

But the analogy ignored the neutron's distinctive neutrality.Polanyi proposed an analogy.Her analogy to a maze perfectly captured the complexity.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Allegory and analogy are both used in literature and communication but have distinct purposes.
  • An allegory is often a complete narrative, telling a story where characters and events symbolically represent broader themes or messages.
  • An analogy is a comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification, often using the structure A is to B as C is to D.
  • Remember that allegories are typically longer and more complex, while analogies are usually short and simple comparisons.
  • Both can be used to explain difficult concepts, but an allegory does this through storytelling, whereas analogy does it through direct comparison.
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