Allegory is a symbolic representation used to convey hidden meanings through stories and symbols. Allegorical stories contain symbols that represent ideas, and it is up to the audience to interpret the symbols and uncover the author's deeper message. Examples of allegory discussed include The Masque of the Red Death, which uses symbols to represent mortality, and Hotel California, whose lyrics can be interpreted to have a hidden message about the dark side of the American Dream. Plato's Allegory of the Cave also employs symbols to represent philosophical concepts about humans' limited understanding of reality.