Question

Hello Rabbi,
As I understand it, the terms “plain meaning,” “hint,” and “homiletic interpretation” do not refer to different layers, but to different methods and approaches of study. So too, the homiletic and allusive readings are also “in our world,” except that they use different forms of interpreting the verse.
By contrast, it seems that “secret” deals with a different layer of reality. It deals with another world, though not as a different method of study. This could be explained in light of the assumption of some halakhic decisors and kabbalists that there cannot be a contradiction between “secret” and the “revealed,” since these are really two parallel worlds. In any case, it seems that “secret” is parallel to the three methods of “plain meaning,” “hint,” and “homiletic interpretation.” Those three deal with the “revealed,” whereas “secret” deals with another world.
If so: (a) can one say that within secret itself there is a distinction of plain meaning, hint, and homiletic interpretation? It seems to me that the answer is yes. (b) Why is secret grouped together with plain meaning, hint, and homiletic interpretation as though it were another category, so that in addition to those there is also secret? At first glance there are only three options, except that they themselves are divided into “revealed” and “hidden”?
I would be happy if you could shed some light for me on the plain meaning of the matter…