Glosary Terms

A
allegory (AL-eh-GOR-ee): a narrative that serves as an extended metaphor.
Allegories are written in the form of fables, parables, poems, stories, and
almost any other style or genre. The main purpose of an allegory is to tell a
story that has characters, a setting, as well as other types of symbols, that have
both literal and figurative meanings. The difference between an allegory and asymbol is that an allegory is a complete narrative that conveys abstract ideas
to get a point across, while a symbol is a representation of an idea or concept
that can have a different meaning throughout a literary work (A Handbook to
Literature). One well-known example of an allegory is Dante‘s The Divine
Comedy. In Inferno, Dante is on a pilgrimage to try to understand his own life,
but hischaracter also represents every man who is in search of his purpose in
the world (Merriam Webster Encyclopedia of Literature). Although Virgil
literally guides Dante on his journey through the mystical inferno, he can also
be seen as the reason and human wisdom that Dante has been looking for in
his life. See A Handbook to Literature, Merriam Webster’s Encyclopedia of
Literature. MachellaCaldwell, Student, University of North Carolinaat
Pembroke
alliteration (a-LIT-uh-RAY-shuhn): a pattern of sound that includes the
repetition of consonant sounds. The repetition can be located at the beginning
of successive words or inside the words. Poets often use alliteration to audibly
represent the action that is taking place. For instance, in the Inferno, Dante
states: "I saw it there,but I saw nothing in it, except the rising of the boiling
bubbles" (261). The repetition of the "b" sounds represents the sounds of
bubbling, or the bursting action of the boiling pitch. In addition, in Sir Phillip
Sidney's Astrophel and Stella, the poet states: "Biting my truant pen, beating
myself for spite" (Line 13). This repetition of the "t" sound represents the
action of the poet; onecan hear and visualize his anguish as he bites the pen.
Also in Astrophel and Stella, the poet states, "Oft turning others' leaves, to see
if thence would flow, / Some fresh and fruitful showers upon
my sunburn'd brain" (7-8). Again, the poet repeats the "fr" sounds to
emphasize the speaker's desire for inspiration in expressing his feelings. Poets
may also use alliteration to call attention toa phrase and fix it into the reader's
mind; thus, it is useful for emphasis. Therefore, not only does alliteration
provide poetry or prose with a unique sound, it can place emphasis on specific
phrases and represent the action that is taking place. See A Handbook to
Literature, Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Stacey
Ann Singletary, Student, University of NorthCarolina at Pembroke
allusion (a-LOO-zhuhn): a reference in a literary work to a person, place, or
thing in history or another work of literature. Allusions are often indirect or
brief references to well-known characters or events. Specific examples of

allusions can be found throughout Dante‘s Inferno. In a passage, Dante
alludes to the Greek mythological figures, Phaethon and Icarus, toexpress his
fear as he descends from the air into the eighth circle of hell. He states:
I doubt if Phaethon feared more - that time
he dropped the sun-reins of his father's chariot
and burned the streak of sky we see today or if poor Icarus did - feeling his sides
unfeathering as the wax began to melt,
his father shouting: "Wrong, your course is wrong" (Canto XVII: 106-111).

Allusions areoften used to summarize broad, complex ideas or emotions in
one quick, powerful image. For example, to communicate the idea of selfsacrifice one may refer to Jesus, as part of Jesus' story portrays him dying on
the cross in order to save mankind (Matthew 27:45-56). In addition, to express
righteousness, one might allude to Noah who "had no faults and was the only
good man of his time" (Genesis...