4 Gorgeous Christian Allegories
When it comes to allegories, people have Opinions. Some readers find them unbearably cheesy, which is, I guess, understandable: few things grate on the nerves like a story that’s too handholdy—the kind that tells us what we’re supposed to think about every element of the story. And allegories can certainly come across as handholdy. There’s no dodging it: every allegory mentioned in this post features characters whose names explicitly tell you what they’re meant to represent within the story.
But you know what? I love allegories. I love the way they take an abstract truth and, by portraying it as a character, bring it to life. Allegories give those truths structure and presence—they give them a body. And I love what allegories do in our hearts as our family reads them: they give us illustrations we can return to when faced with a difficult moment. “Remember when Little Pilgrim strayed from the path?” we might say. “This situation is kind of like that because . . .”
When reading Little Pilgrim’s Progress we’re reminded that our life is not a linear line but a journey, filled with moments of peril and conviction as well as rest and peace. When reading Hinds’ Feet on High Places, we remember that our Shepherd is just a call away and that he’ll come bounding down the mountainside to our help when we call. Of course the best stories can also have this effect, allegorical or not, but allegories excel at it: they give us something concrete to picture in those moments when our vision is clouded by grief or discouragement or doubt.
So, here are a few of our family’s favorites. There’s a little something on this list for all age levels, so I’ve organized it from the ones written for the littlest readers to the ones written for the biggest.
LITTLE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, BY HELEN L. TAYLOR (& JOE SUTPHIN)
This adaptation takes the big truths of John Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress and translates them into characters and images that are accessible for young readers. Joe Sutphin’s illustrations in this edition open them up further. (Read the full review.)
TALES OF THE KINGDOM, BY DAVID & KAREN MAINS
Tales of the Kingdom was written in the eighties (you can see it in the artwork), which makes this one feel the most like modern life. These books are full of delightful stories and a prince we all long to know better. (Read the full review.)
HINDS’ FEET ON HIGH PLACES, BY HANNAH HURNARD
Hannah Hurnard’s tale of Much-Afraid and her journey to the High Places is one worth meditating upon and savoring. My older daughters love this one; I keep a copy by my bed so I can read a little each day. (Read the full review.)
THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, BY JOHN BUNYAN
The grand-daddy of allegories, Pilgrim’s Progress follows Christian as he journeys from the City of Destruction to the City of Light—and is waylaid, challenged, or fortified by those he meets along the way. This edition features updated language and some annotation that makes John Bunyan’s old-school language open up for modern readers. Another point in its favor? It’s so pretty!
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I have gotten to know you through your contributions to Story Warren, and then, found the treasure of your blog and book reviews. As a home educator of 4, I appreciate your insight and joy.
When I read this post “4 Gorgeous Christian Allegories,” I was encouraged and inspired. I am releasing an allegorical work of fiction this month entitled, “The Winning of Lady Wisdom.” In my interviews and publicity events, I have used your thoughts on how allegory gives truth structure, even while being a tad hand-holdy. I just wanted to thank you for sharing your love for Jesus, truth, goodness, and beauty with the world, and for being a friend to allegory!
Thank you for this wonderful and heart‑felt post — it was such a joy to read! I really appreciate how you celebrated the value of Christian allegories not just as stories, but as living illustrations of truth that stay with readers long after the final page. Your explanation of how allegories can take abstract spiritual realities and give them structure, presence, and emotional resonance helped remind me why these kinds of books can be so meaningful for families and readers of all ages — little ones, teens, and adults alike. I loved your curated list of titles: starting with Little Pilgrim’s Progress, which brings Bunyan’s classic into an accessible form for young readers, and moving through Tales of the Kingdom with its delightful stories and yearning for the Prince, to Hinds’ Feet on High Places, a deeply meditative journey of faith, and finally to The Pilgrim’s Progress itself — the granddaddy of Christian allegory that has inspired believers for centuries.