The word “literal” in literature has been used in a variety of ways, often marking a strict adherence to exact wording or straightforward meaning while contrasting with figurative or allegorical interpretations. In translations, for instance, authors stress a “literal” rendition as one that remains true to the original text, as seen in comments on translating terms like “tramezzo” ([1]) or in the discussion of literal versus paraphrased texts ([2], [3]). At other times, “literal” underscores the presentation of unembellished facts or experiences, as when factual events are recounted with a claim to objective truth ([4], [5]), yet even here it is sometimes critiqued or qualified—suggesting that such a literal approach may overlook deeper, more nuanced meanings ([6], [7]). In some contexts, literal usage becomes a playful self-conscious device, calling attention to the limitations of taking language solely at face value ([8], [9]). Thus, across diverse literary works and genres, “literal” functions both as a technical term in translation and as an indicator of a particular interpretative stance toward language and meaning.