A symbolic representation of ideas, actions and situations in a work of art is a/an

The answer is "allegory". An allegory is a form of symbolic representation in art where ideas, actions, and situations are represented through symbolic characters, figures, or events. An allegory is often used to convey moral, social, or political messages in a work of art. For example, George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is an allegory where the characters and events represent the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism in the Soviet Union.