Allegory (from Greek allgorein, interpret) and symbol (from Greek sumbolon, token for

identification) are figures of speech with metaphoric meaning. These are words that have
two levels of meaning: one which lies on the surface of the word and is its literal,
material meaning and the other which lies deeper and is the figurative, metaphorical
meaning. Metaphorical meanings develop from the feeling of cognation and connection
between an object that is designated by a certain word in the language and a different
object onto which we transfer the verbal designation. Thus, for instance, the word
morning (=the early part of the day) can be compared with the beginning of a
persons life.
The principle feature of allegory and symbol is their long history. Most of them trace
back to ancient legends, rituals and ideas about the world. Certain words from time
immemorial have been engraved on the human mind as symbols. Later these words
attracted literary artists and, being included into their works, acquired new meanings. In
the same way allegory lives in the human memory for many centuries and serves as the
embodiment of the concepts of justice, good, evil, moral virtues. Allegory does not
drastically change over the years of its existence and therefore it is understood by people
of different historical periods. For example, the goddess Themis that is portrayed with her
eyes tied and holding scales will always remain the incarnation of justice.
However there is a great difference between allegory and symbol. Allegory is the
presentation of a particular abstract concept by an image. An allegory has a single
meaning, and the connection between the image and the concept is established by
analogy or contiguity (e.g. a heart is the allegory of love). On the contrary, a symbol is
closely tied to its meanings and is not anyhow limited for interpretation. A multitude of
meanings is accumulated in each symbolic image. A symbol becomes transparent and its
perspectives of meaning shine through. For example, not only does spring stand for a
season of the year, but it is also a symbol of youth, the first love, the beginning of a new
life, etc. In contrast to allegory, symbol is not always easily deciphered. A symbol cannot
be decoded by a simple strain of the mind and there is no rational formula which can
explain a symbol. The reader is expected to experience the atmosphere of the text, to live
through it in order to understand the meaning, and the number of meanings that comes
into light depends on the peculiarities of the individual reader.