Plato's Distinction Between Forms and Reality

Plato uses the Allegory of the cave to define the difference between forms and reality. He describes a scenario that takes place in a cave. In the cave are men who's necks are fettered so that they can only look forward. Light in the cave is provided by a fire. Behind the prisoners is a short wall. Men on the other side of the wall raise human and animal images above the short wall. The prisoners see the shadows of these figures on the wall and think that what they are seeing are real men and animals; a false reality. The prisoners cannot see the true form of the men and animals because they are away from the world of true forms which lie outside the cave.