An allegory
An allegory. In an allegory, characters, events, and settings are used to represent abstract ideas, moral values, or historical events. The story often has a deeper or hidden meaning beyond the literal interpretation.
symbolic meaning is the symbol that the subject/object symbolizes.What does the subject/object symbolize? Whereas the literal meaning is the moral of the story. What does the story teach us?
Metaphoric?
It sounds like the story is using a metaphorical approach to convey deeper meanings about real-life situations and people. The events and characters in the story likely represent larger ideas or themes that mirror aspects of reality in a symbolic way. This technique allows the reader to interpret the story on multiple levels and find connections to the world beyond the narrative.
The literary term "allegory" is a very old and yet, still today, quite commonly used term. Its fundamental definition is "symbolic story"; that is, an allegory is a narrative (or, story) of some kind that tells one tale at the surface with another tale being told through symbolic interpretation of the characters, events, images, etc., of that "surface" story.
The symbolic clue in the story was the recurring motif of a clock ticking, symbolizing the passage of time and the impending deadline or decision that the characters must face.
Dynamic characters change and grow throughout a story.
Novel
An allegory.
The use of symbolic characters or events that represent larger ideas or themes, a setting that is not entirely realistic but serves to convey a deeper message, and a plot that can be interpreted on multiple levels are all elements that can make a story allegorical.
An author can provide foreshadowing by using subtle clues or suggestions about future events in the story. They can also use symbolic imagery or recurring motifs that allude to what will happen later. Additionally, authors may have characters make cryptic comments or gestures that hint at the unfolding of events.
The story is being told with an omniscient narrator, who has knowledge of all the events and characters' thoughts, even those that are not revealed to the characters until later in the story.
"Imaginary characters or events created for a story."