Is The Green Ember Allegory?
In short, no.
Does that surprise you?
I write generous, adventurous stories that are faithful to Reality. They tell the truth about the world, but there aren’t one-for-one specific truths being taught in the guise of a story. I just try to write excellent stories.
Allegory VS Application
Do the Green Ember stories resonate with you as a Christian? What you may be experiencing is application.
“I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history―true or feigned―with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse applicability with allegory, but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author.”
―J. R. R. Tolkien
I recently received this question during my Q & A with my pal Brett Harris of Young Writers Workshop.
How do you write a biblical allegory without making the story boring or predictable? How do I “disguise” the allegory without boring Christians and turning away non-Christian readers?
Here’s my full answer, including some pitfalls to avoid when seeking to write a story that is faithful to Reality.
Telling Truthful Stories
God made the world. Vocations like farming, storytelling, and serving kids PB & J’s are good.
This world is his. Motherhood, fatherhood, brotherhood, sisterhood―it’s all his. We don’t have to pretend that it’s not and we don’t have to disguise it. We don’t have to sneak a message into fatherhood. It’s already good and doing it well is good. God invented it. It doesn’t need another sneaky, sly purpose. The same is true for stories.
We tell good stories and don’t have to be burdened with sneaking (even very good) info into them—because God made the world.
If you’re a Christian in the arts and you’re asking me what I think you need to be faithful and fruitful in your work, here’s my response. Follow Jesus and go to church. Have a high view of Holy Scripture, the Doctrine of Creation, and the Doctrine of Vocation. Then, pray and smile and sweat and do your very best work.
I’m on your side!
Sam
