Analogy vs. Parable — What's the Difference?

Can be a single sentence or a complex narrative.

Engages emotionally and spiritually.

A comparison to explain something complex.

Uses allegory.

Used in argumentation.

Encourages personal application.

Aids in visualization.

Often found in religious texts.

Versatile in application.

A story with a moral lesson.

Analogy (from Greek ἀναλογία, analogia, "proportion", from ana- "upon, according to" [also "against", "anew"] + logos "ratio" [also "word, speech, reckoning"]) is a cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject (the analog, or source) to another (the target), or a linguistic expression corresponding to such a process. In a narrower sense, analogy is an inference or an argument from one particular to another particular, as opposed to deduction, induction, and abduction, in which at least one of the premises, or the conclusion, is general rather than particular in nature.

A parable is a succinct, didactic story, in prose or verse, that illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs from a fable in that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, whereas parables have human characters.

A comparison between one thing and another, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification

A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels

A similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar

A simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson.

A comparison based on such similarity

A short narrative illustrating a lesson (usually religious/moral) by comparison or analogy.

(Biology) Correspondence in function or position between organs of dissimilar evolutionary origin or structure.

(transitive) To represent by parable.

A form of reasoning based on the assumption that if two things are known to be alike in some respects, then they are probably alike in other respects.

(obsolete) That can easily be prepared or procured; obtainable.

(Linguistics) The process by which words or morphemes are re-formed or created on the model of existing grammatical patterns in a language, often leading to greater regularity in paradigms, as evidenced by helped replacing holp and holpen as the past tense and past participle of help on the model of verbs such as yelp, yelped, yelped.

Procurable.

A relationship of resemblance or equivalence between two situations, people, or objects, especially when used as a basis for explanation or extrapolation.

A comparison; a similitude; specifically, a short fictitious narrative of something which might really occur in life or nature, by means of which a moral is drawn; as, the parables of Christ.

(geometry) The proportion or the equality of ratios.

To represent by parable.

(grammar) The correspondence of a word or phrase with the genius of a language, as learned from the manner in which its words and phrases are ordinarily formed; similarity of derivative or inflectional processes.

A short moral story (often with animal characters)

A resemblance of relations; an agreement or likeness between things in some circumstances or effects, when the things are otherwise entirely different. Thus, learning enlightens the mind, because it is to the mind what light is to the eye, enabling it to discover things before hidden.

(New Testament) any of the stories told by Jesus to convey his religious message;

A relation or correspondence in function, between organs or parts which are decidedly different.

Proportion; equality of ratios.

Conformity of words to the genius, structure, or general rules of a language; similarity of origin, inflection, or principle of pronunciation, and the like, as opposed to anomaly.

An inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others

Drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect;

The religious belief that between creature and creator no similarity can be found so great but that the dissimilarity is always greater; language can point in the right direction but any analogy between God and humans will always be inadequate

While commonly associated with religious texts, parables can be secular, used to impart moral lessons outside of a religious context.

Yes, parables can contain analogies as part of their narrative to make moral or spiritual lessons more relatable and understandable.

An analogy works by drawing a parallel between a known concept and an unknown one, making the unfamiliar concept easier to understand.

No, analogies are used in various fields, including science, philosophy, and everyday conversation, to clarify concepts and ideas.

Parables are effective because they engage listeners or readers on an emotional level, allowing them to draw personal conclusions and applications from the story.

Analogies can make abstract or complex subjects more tangible and relatable, enhancing comprehension and retention.

A good parable is one that presents a compelling story with relatable characters and situations, leading to a profound moral or spiritual insight.

Yes, by demonstrating a parallel between two concepts, analogies can be persuasive, especially in arguments or debates.

The main difference lies in their purpose and form: an analogy directly compares two things to clarify or explain, while a parable is a story that illustrates a moral or spiritual lesson.

No, the purpose of a parable is to teach a lesson rather than to entertain, so their endings may vary depending on the lesson being conveyed.