An allegory is a story which is specifically symbolic for another story. This broad definition is widely accepted — but the question has arisen: Is a story an allegory only if the author intended it to be so?
There have been two different definitions of “allegory” presented. First: a story which is symbolic for another story, and obviously intended to be so. Second: a story which is apparently symbolic for another story — but whether or not it is actually an allegory depends on reader interpretation. It does have a good deal to do with the author’s intent, however; because it’s difficult to find an underlying symbolic story if the author had absolutely no intention of an allegory. The second definition simply does not limit an allegory to what the author might have intended — since that is arbitrary and often subject to debate — and says rather that calling something an allegory depends more the reader’s interpretation.
