Beyond the definition. Allegory in Bulgarian literary thought and Atanas Dalchev’s poetry

The paper reviews Bulgarian definitions of allegory appearing in dictionaries and reference books. It reveals several paradoxes concerning the usage of the terms “alegoria” (алегория) and “inoskazanie” (иносказание) in contemporary Bulgarian language. Contrary to the lack of critical interest towards allegorical expression in 20th-century poetry, the author argues that several of Atanas Dalchev’s poems (most notably “Hospital” and “The House”) can be successfully interpreted allegorically.