Allegory a literary device in which characters or

Allegory • a literary device in which characters or events in a literary work symbolize ideas and concepts • AKA extended metaphor

Famous Allegories • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: Aslan’s death, sacrificing himself for Edmund, symbolizes Jesus's crucifixion in sacrifice for sinners (according to Christian theology) • Animal Farm: various animals symbolize the political figures of the Russian Revolution • The Faerie Queene: various knights symbolize different virtues (justice, chastity, courtesy, friendship, etc. ) • “Young Goodman Brown”: the Devil’s Staff symbolizes defiance of God; a journey to the forest symbolizes Christian "self-exploration"; and the title character’s loss of his wife Faith symbolizes his loss of faith in salvation and in human goodness

The Hobbit: Allegory or Not? • What ideas or concepts might the characters in The Hobbit symbolize? • What ideas or concepts might the events in The Hobbit symbolize?

The Hobbit: Allegory or Not? • Did Tolkien intend us to interpret the characters and events this way? • Many people have suggested that The Lord of the Rings is an allegory for the World Wars.

The Hobbit: Allegory or Not? • But Tolkien stated in his introduction to the second edition of TLOTR, "It is neither allegorical nor topical. . I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. ” • Does it matter what Tolkien intended?

Answer the Aim Even if we don’t call it an “allegory, ” we can still find parallels between Tolkien’s story and the real world. • What does The Hobbit reflect about 1930 s Europe? • What does it reflect about modern society?