What is the difference between figurative meaning and literal meaning?

Question

A. Literal meaning is symbolic, while figurative meaning is exactly what is meant
B. Literal meaning is exactly what it meant, while figurative meaning can be symbolic

Answer 1

B. Literal meaning is exactly what it meant, while figurative meaning can be symbolic.

Literal meaning refers to the explicit meaning of a word or phrase—the definition you would find in a dictionary. Figurative meaning, on the other hand, involves using language in a non-literal way, often to convey ideas or concepts through symbolism, metaphor, or exaggeration.