Lit Think Podcast
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Chapter 5.2 - Allegory in Wicked: Part 1
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Chapter 5.2 - Allegory in Wicked: Part 1

How Wicked: Part 1 works as an allegory for many of our human experiences

Alicia and Sarah gush about one of their all-time favorite musicals and their favorite film of 2024. Without offering spoilers for the second half of Wicked, they explore the idea of allegory and the different ways the first half of the musical highlights important allegorical themes. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: Allegory

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman


Show Notes:

Intro notes:

  • Why Wicked

Literary terms of the week:

  • Allegory

    • Extended metaphor across a piece of literature

    • Symbolism used to convey moral message

    • Examples - The Wizard of Oz; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Animal Farm; The Three Little Pigs; Lord of the Flies; The Alchemist

  • Character connections in Wicked

    • Elphaba - physical outsider

    • Dr Dillamond - propoganda

    • The Wizard - dictator

    • Emerald City/Galinda - conformity

  • Coming soon in Part 2:

    • Foreshadowing

    • Prequel

What are we enjoying right now?

  • Alicia: By Any Other Name (Jodi Picoult), Big Jim and the White Boy (David F. Walker, Marcus Kwame Anderson)

  • Sarah: James (Percival Everett), Outlander (Starz)

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