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Allegorical verse

Genre
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Poetry that employs sustained symbolic narrative to represent abstract ideas, moral lessons, or political commentary beneath its surface story.

Detailed Definition
Poetry that uses extended metaphor, symbolic narrative, or figurative representation to convey meanings beyond the literal surface level. In allegorical verse, characters typically represent abstract qualities (virtues, vices, psychological states), while plot events symbolize moral, spiritual, or philosophical concepts. Major examples include Spenser's "The Faerie Queene," Dante's "Divine Comedy," and works by Blake. Readers must interpret both literal narrative and symbolic significance.
Example
Example in poetry:
Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" where characters embody virtues; Dante's "Divine Comedy" as spiritual journey allegory; Blake's "The Tyger" representing divine creation's duality; Bunyan's verse allegories of Christian struggle
Additional Notes
Requires understanding of both surface narrative and hidden meaning. Common in medieval, Renaissance, and Romantic periods. Consider religious, political, and moral allegories as distinct types.
Also Known As
Symbolic narrative Extended metaphor poem Allegorical poetry Hidden meaning verse Emblem poem Symbol poem symbolic verse Symbolic poetry emblematic poem
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