literalism
Taking words exactly
Literalism is strict adherence to the exact meaning of words or texts, without allowance for metaphor, context, or interpretation.
The term appears most often in discussions of religious scripture: Biblical literalism holds that the creation account describes actual events.
More broadly, literalism can describe any insistence on surface meaning over deeper significance or artistic intent.
Strict adherence to core tenets
- inerrancyTotal freedom from mistakes
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- creationismDivine origin doctrine
In identical wording
- word-for-wordExactly as stated
- textualOf written content
- denotationWord's explicit dictionary meaning
- plainBasic and unremarkable
surface · explicit · direct · straightforward · unembellished · prosaic · unadorned · nonfigurative
Correctness in every detail
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- specificityExactness of detail
- verbatimIn identical wording
word-for-word · precision · explicitness · exactitude · unambiguous · unequivocal · strict · meticulous
Accepting things as they are
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
- verisimilitudeAppearance of being factual
- mimesisArtistic imitation of reality
- figurativeRepresenting through imagery
representational · photorealism · depiction · trompe-l'oeil · hyperrealism · illusionism
fundamentalism
Strict adherence to core tenets
- inerrancyTotal freedom from mistakes
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
verbatim
In identical wording
- word-for-wordExactly as stated
- textualOf written content
- denotationWord's explicit dictionary meaning
plain · surface · explicit · direct · straightforward · unembellished · prosaic · unadorned · nonfigurative · unvarnished
exactness
Correctness in every detail
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- specificityExactness of detail
verbatim · word-for-word · precision · explicitness · exactitude · unambiguous · unequivocal · strict · meticulous · letter-perfect
realism
Accepting things as they are
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
- verisimilitudeAppearance of being factual
- mimesisArtistic imitation of reality
figurative · representational · photorealism · depiction · trompe-l'oeil · hyperrealism · illusionism
- Faith and Sciencefaith and reason, intelligent design, creationism, creation science, evolution debate
- fundamentalismfundamentalism, inerrancy, dogmatism, strict interpretation, doctrinal purity
- Religious Debatespredestination, trinity, transubstantiation, original sin, justification
- religious doctrinedogma, creed, tenets, beliefs, precepts
- literalismplain meaning, verbatim, word-for-word, surface meaning, denotation
- rigid thinkingrigid, dogmatic, doctrinaire, rule-bound, absolutist
literalismallegory
Symbolic tale with deeper meaning
symbolism · typology · mystical interpretation · deconstructionism · spiritualizing
literalismabstraction
Distilling to essential qualities
surrealism · expressionism · impressionism · creativity · artistic license
literalismfigurative language
Non-literal modes of expression
nuance · subtext · reading between the lines · implication · connotation
literalist, literalists, literalistic, literalizing, literalized, literality