literalism
literalism — noun
1. the habit or practice of understanding words and sentences in their most basic,
the habit or practice of understanding words and sentences in their most basic, exact meaning, without looking for any hidden or additional message behind them.
Ezra's strict literalism meant he never understood when his coworkers were being sarcastic.
strict literalism (collocation with intensifier)
Sivan read the contract with such literalism that she asked about every single comma.
The teacher warned that literalism would not help the class understand the poem.
Bao's literalism caused problems because he followed his boss's exact words, not her intent.
Reema found that literalism was useful for legal documents but not for reading fiction.
- literalness
less formal than literalism; describes a quality rather than a fixed doctrine
- verbalism
more negative, suggesting excessive focus on wording over meaning
- pedantry
broader term for insisting on minor rules or details, not just literal meaning
- figurative interpretation
understanding language by looking for symbolic or metaphorical meanings
- liberal interpretation
reading that allows for wider or looser understanding of the text
用法筆記
Often used with a slightly critical tone, suggesting the person lacks flexibility or imagination. Common in discussions of biblical, legal, or literary interpretation.
常見錯誤
2. in art, film, and writing, the style or method of showing people, objects, and s
in art, film, and writing, the style or method of showing people, objects, and scenes exactly as they appear in ordinary life, without changing them to make them look better, more beautiful, or more dramatic.
The painter's literalism made every leaf and wrinkle in her landscapes look completely real.
collocation: painter's literalism (possessive + noun)
Abigail admired the film's literalism — every costume was copied from real 1950s clothes.
Critics praised the novel for its harsh literalism — nothing was softened or made beautiful.
Léa's photography course focused on literalism and capturing scenes exactly as they appeared.
Tamar thought literalism in sculpture was dull; she preferred abstract shapes to exact copies.
- realism
broader term; realism can involve selecting typical details, while literalism aims for exact reproduction
- naturalism
a specific 19th-century movement in art and literature that shares ideals with literalism
- verisimilitude
more formal term for the appearance of being true or real
- abstraction
art that does not attempt to represent real objects
- idealism
portraying things as perfect or ideal rather than as they really are
- romanticism
movement that emphasises emotion and imagination over exact representation
用法筆記
Used mainly in art criticism and literary analysis. Distinguished from the broader term 'realism' by its emphasis on precise, unfiltered depiction of surface details rather than overall truthfulness to life.