Three statements describing characteristics of allegory are:
-It comments on an abstract theory or historical event.
-It occurs throughout the entire length of a story.
-It contains meanings of social or political significance.
An allegory is characterized by having both a literal meaning and a figurative or symbolic interpretation. The literal story must convey a clear moral lesson or teaching and its parallel symbolism must be present from begging to end of the story.
For example, in the allegorical fable "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, each character and the overall unfolding of events in the farm, although never mentioned directly, are symbolism to the historical events (loaded with social and political significance) that culminated to the Russian Revolution of 1917, which was followed by the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union.
