CC - I : what is 'rupaka'

-A rupaka has two meanings. It is both a symbol and an allegory, where one incident or figure of speech is meant to stand for another. The meaning is often extended to refer to an entire act of dramatic composition. An entire play was often referred to as a 'rupaka' in classical Sanskrit usage the meaning being quite clear, the audio-visual experience of the play was meant to deliver something of a deeper and higher meaning, some philosophical insight critics also derive the meaning of rupaka from 'rupa' or the palpable visible form of something impalpable. The meaning was often interchangeably used with 'drishyakavya'. The different kinds of rupaka according to Bharata are : Nataka, prakarana, anka, byayoga, bhana, Samabakara, bithi, prahasana, dima and ihamriga.