Which term describes a story or poem interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, usually moral or political?

The term describing a story or poem that is interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, often conveying a moral or political message, is allegory. Allegories use characters, events, and symbols to represent larger concepts and express deeper truths about society, human nature, or morality. A well-known example of an allegory is George Orwell's "Animal Farm," where the characters and plot symbolize real historical events and political ideologies.

In contrast, while allusion refers to a brief reference to another work or concept, and metaphor involves a direct comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as," these terms do not capture the complexity of layered meanings that define an allegory. A parable, although often teaching a moral lesson through a simple story, does not necessarily carry the extensive symbolic depth that an allegory encompasses, making it less fitting for this particular definition.