Allegory of the Cave???

Question

How is this poem similar to Plato's Allegory of the Cave????? Explain.

Thank you so MUCH!!!!

Rows of books around me stand,

Fence me in on either hand;

Through that forest of dead words

I would hunt the living birds -

So I write these lines for you

Who have felt the death-wish too,

All the wires are cut, my friends

Live beyond the severed ends.

Answer 1

An allegory is simply a story full of symbols.  Like in the cave, the cave is the human psyche, the symbols on the wall of the cave are the everyday stuff people do and see, reaching the light outside of the cave is like reaching enlightenment of thought.  

In this poem, to me, it sounds like school.  Being trapped in the mundane and ritualistic routine of it.  You would rather die then sit through the boring task everyday. They pump you full of general knowledge which can only get a person so far.  When you graduate you are on your own to figure out the rest of the world.