Great opening lines in literature
WebJun 4, 2024 · First lines work best when they combine two adversarial features: a little bit of mystery and a sensation that resembles a slap. With the former we’re enticed to keep reading. There’s a puzzle, ambiguity, an elusive desire to proceed. With the latter we’re provided a jolt, an unexpected bit of certainty, the assurance that the writer has ... WebSep 14, 2024 · 2. Call me Ishmael. Herman Melville, Moby-Dick, 1851 Moby-Dick is so much more than the great American novel at this point, and so much more than a story of a vengeful sea captain chasing a white ...
Great opening lines in literature
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There is one thing that makes the opening line for Moby Dickso powerful: curiosity. Imagine this, you open the book and are suddenly confronted by a character calling themselves Ishmael. But who is Ishmael? Is that even his real name? See more Pride and Prejudiceis a study of the Victorian era’s social conventions, especially when it comes to education and marrying into well-to-do families—which is evident in its opening lines. See more This line hits differently when you learn that Slaughterhouse-FIveis based on the real firebombing of Dresden during World War II, which the author personally experienced. It’s a … See more Set before and during the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities’opening line hints at the radical opposites taking place in the story: of love and hatred, oppression and freedom, and the rich and the poor. See more The Anna Kareninaprinciple is simple: all happy families share common elements that lead to happiness, while an imbalance or deficiency of these elements leads to misery. See more WebApr 5, 2011 · 1. Absurd “‘Take my camel, dear,’ said my Aunt Dot, as she climbed down from this animal on her return from High Mass.” — Rose Macaulay, The Towers of Trebizond Are you in the mood for …
WebStars reveal their favourite first words. Application error: a client-side exception has occurred (see the browser console for more information). WebApr 6, 2024 · Here, we've picked 18 of our favourite opening lines in fiction. It's not exhaustive – there are far too many exquisite openers in literature to make space for …
WebMar 9, 2024 · A great first line can spur intense readerly attraction—provoke a compulsion to know more. Let’s call this: love at first sentence. Such a reading experience is also a … WebStill, the charged, energetic, virtuosic, and memorable lines below offer striking openings to a set of remarkable novels. 1. Call me Ishmael. —Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851) 2. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
WebApr 5, 2024 · Here, we've picked 18 of our favourite opening lines in fiction. It's not exhaustive – there are far too many exquisite openers in literature to make space for …
WebNov 8, 2024 · 1984. By George Orwell. “Freedom is slavery,” “war is peace,” “ignorance is strength"...These are the haunting maxims of George Orwell's classic book, which … csx train 123WebHere are some of the best opening lines from popular books. Moby Dick: Call me Ishmael. Pride and Prejudice: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. One Hundred Years of Solitude: Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to ... csx track routesWebApr 16, 2015 · First lines are powerful. It’s the author’s best chance to hook the reader. A great first line will pull you in, introduce you to the narrator, and set the tone for the entire book. Depending on what you’re reading, a great first line can be funny or meaningful or sad or somehow all of the above. ear nose mouth doctorWebAug 20, 2024 · First give readers a character to root for, then they’ll patiently sit through his backstory. [Plus, readers are more intelligent then we give them credit for, they often even fill in the blanks themselves … csx train cab rideWebJun 15, 2024 · The opening lines of a novel can prove crucial, and many authors spend an inordinate amount of time considering how their books will begin. From Dickens's A Tale … ear nose shaverWebApr 28, 2012 · Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice (1813)“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a … csx train dispatcher jobWebMay 15, 2024 · 10. The Waves by Virginia Woolf. “The sun had not yet risen.”. 11. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. “The time traveler (for so it will be convenient to speak of him) was expounding a recondite matter to … csx train accident in sandstone wv