Title Highlight: Encyclopedia of Allegorical Literature

Encyclopedia of Allegorical Literature
Located in Reference, REF PN 56.A5 L 44 1996
1 volume with illustrations/photos
Appendices: Titles featured in the text, Titles featured in the text, listed by date
Bibliography and Index

This short encyclopedia (fewer than 300 pages) serves to introduce how allegory has been used by authors throughout the ages to comment on human foibles and virtues. Although the work contains short sections on other art forms such as music and painting, it concentrates on works of literature and their authors. Some of the choices appear to be unusual (Alice in Wonderland as an allegory on the Church of England, Huckleberry Finn as an allegory on the development of America); but others are more traditionally viewed as allegories (Animal Farm, Gulliver’s Travels) The book gives insights and alternate ways of looking at a number of literary works and authors and contains a useful list of the titles covered in the work at Appendix A, which will let you know if the title you are interested in is covered by the book.