What actually is the difference between a symbol and an allegory?

>>9327088
Allegory is like if the whole story was a symbol

allegory is a particular expression of a general idea, or to show something ideal with something real.
according to romantic aesthetics a symbol is the special case of identity between special and general, when it becomes difficult to distinguish between real and unreal, like in legends and myths.

the only thing moby dick could be an allegory for is a mutation, a freak of nature

most allegories are cheap trite

>my book has an allegory about God, this makes it more literary

go away

>>9327088
A symbol is a star. An allegory is a star crashing into another star.

>>9328134
Lord have mercy