Absalom and Achitophel
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
To the Reader Absalom and Achitophel
Themes
All Themes Politics, Allegory, and Satire God, Religion, and the Divine Right of Kings Power and Ambition
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Absalom Achitophel David Saul David’s Brother Corah Shimei Zimri The Pharaoh Ishbosheth Jonas Barzillai Barzillai’s Eldest Son Jotham Amiel
Terms
All Terms Abbethdin Egypt The Exclusion Crisis / The Exclusion Bill The Good Old Cause Israel The Jebusites The Jews The Popish Plot Sanhedrin Tory / Anti-Bromingham Tyrus Whig
Symbols
All Symbols The Crown
Quizzes
All Quizzes To the Reader Quiz Absalom and Achitophel Quiz
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Absalom and Achitophel

by

John Dryden

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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • To the Reader
  • Absalom and Achitophel
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Politics, Allegory, and Satire Theme Icon
    Politics, Allegory, and Satire
  • God, Religion, and the Divine Right of Kings Theme Icon
    God, Religion, and the Divine Right of Kings
  • Power and Ambition Theme Icon
    Power and Ambition
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Absalom
  • Achitophel
  • David
  • Saul
  • David’s Brother
  • Corah
  • Shimei
  • Zimri
  • The Pharaoh
  • Ishbosheth
  • Jonas
  • Barzillai
  • Barzillai’s Eldest Son
  • Jotham
  • Amiel
Terms
  • All Terms
  • Abbethdin
  • Egypt
  • The Exclusion Crisis / The Exclusion Bill
  • The Good Old Cause
  • Israel
  • The Jebusites
  • The Jews
  • The Popish Plot
  • Sanhedrin
  • Tory / Anti-Bromingham
  • Tyrus
  • Whig
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Crown Symbol Icon
    The Crown
Quizzes
  • All Quizzes
  • To the Reader Quiz
  • Absalom and Achitophel Quiz
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Whig

Absalom and Achitophel Symbols

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The Crown

The Crown

In “Absalom and Achitophel,” the crown is symbolic of David’s power as the third king of Israel, but beyond that, it also represents David’s divine right, bestowed upon him by God, to reign…

read analysis of The Crown

The Crown Symbol Icon
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Whig
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Whig
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The Crown
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The Crown

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