This paper discusses the nature of allegorization (the projection of inward qualities of personality or states of consciousness into external. symbols or transcendent ideals) and allegoresis (textual commentary upon allegory) by comparing the “journey into cave” (inward journey) theme in three works: The Faerie Queene, Don Quixote and the Hsi Yu Pu. All these caves finally resemble Plato’s cave of ignorance and illusion, the “darkness of the soul,” and all three heros’ quests show that man can, by learning to transcend past limitations, move out of the world of illusion into a higher reality.

allegory, allegoresis, inward, ideals, projection, illusion, journey, darkness, transcend, ignorance