...
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/allegory

marckee | 22 Dec '08, 11:47 | Reply | X I said I'd never help again, but I'm a sucker.
The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.

A story, picture, or play employing such representation. John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and Herman Melville's Moby Dick are allegories.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory is also pretty helpful.

trans-siberian | 22 Dec '08, 11:47 | Reply | X it's a story where everything means or represents something else
in a bigger usually moral storay.

see the matrix being an allegory for the bible.

rapscalion-jones | 22 Dec '08, 11:48 | Reply | X Can The Matrix be an allegory for a book that is really entirely allegorical?
TheoGB @rapscalion-jones | 22 Dec '08, 12:05 | Reply | X yes
because the bible isn't entirely allegorical. and the extent that it is is open to belief.

and allegories are more about ideas and beliefs than facts?

rapscalion-jones @TheoGB | 22 Dec '08, 12:09 | Reply | X Okay. I just assumed that really it's all a book designed to teach moral thinking
by basing it on ideas that are easily accessible.

TheoGB @rapscalion-jones | 22 Dec '08, 12:45 | Reply | X it's a story that you think is
about one thing, but is alluding to something else . . . yeah?

starshaped | 22 Dec '08, 11:48 | Reply | X OR IS IT?

bamos | 22 Dec '08, 11:48 | Reply | X I love letmegooglethatforyou.com
I'm thinking Meths didn't really try very hard before declaring that the internet is no help eh?

trans-siberian @bamos | 22 Dec '08, 11:52 | Reply | X no.
i was reading about it yesterday. i understood the general point, but any dictionary type-explaination was a bit vague.

trans-siberian @meths | 22 Dec '08, 12:01 | Reply | X didnt bother with his link.
see my "serious/non serious posting" thread. never follow a bamos link

trans-siberian @meths | 22 Dec '08, 12:26 | Reply | X You're both on my list.
bamos @trans-siberian | 22 Dec '08, 12:27 | Reply | X bullshit. you're on MINE
trans-siberian @meths | 22 Dec '08, 12:45 | Reply | X I've never seen that before
I feel like a high jumper witnessing the Fosberg flop for the first time - seeing a quantum leap in the field of cranky replies right before my eyes.

Lucien @bamos | 22 Dec '08, 11:56 | Reply | X That. Is. Brilliant.
monpot @bamos | 22 Dec '08, 12:20 | Reply | X 24 And Jesus spoke of the shepherd who had lost his lamb
25 But instead of looking for it he posted a thread on the internet
26 And lo the thread asked "Where ist my lamb? I can't find it"

etc

Royter-Hatfood | 22 Dec '08, 11:52 | Reply | X beautiful work
:')

trans-siberian @Royter-Hatfood | 22 Dec '08, 11:55 | Reply | X 27 go to 24
rapscalion-jones @Royter-Hatfood | 22 Dec '08, 11:56 | Reply | X Jesus sounds pretty germanic
lemonbrickcombo @Royter-Hatfood | 22 Dec '08, 12:20 | Reply | X woher ist mein lamm?
trans-siberian @lemonbrickcombo | 22 Dec '08, 12:28 | Reply | X It's like a crocodile.
TheoGB | 22 Dec '08, 11:55 | Reply | X is it theo. is it now?