Famous opening sentences. The ten most famous opening lines from English books 2023-01-04
Famous opening sentences Rating:
9,8/10
694
reviews
Famous opening sentences have the power to draw readers in and set the tone for a piece of literature. These opening lines can be witty, thought-provoking, or memorable, and they often become iconic in their own right.
One famous opening sentence is from Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities": "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." This line immediately sets up the theme of duality and the contrast between good and evil that runs throughout the novel. It also establishes a sense of historical context, as the novel is set in the tumultuous times leading up to the French Revolution.
Another famous opening sentence is from Jane Austen's "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." This line introduces the theme of marriage and social status, as well as poking fun at the societal expectations of the time. It also establishes the narrative voice as ironic and humorous.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" begins with the iconic line: "In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since." This opening sentence establishes the narrator's voice and sets up the theme of the consequences of one's actions. It also hints at the events that will unfold in the novel, as the narrator reflects on past events and the wisdom of their father's advice.
Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" starts with the simple yet evocative line: "He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish." This opening sentence introduces the main character and establishes the setting, as well as hinting at the struggles and determination of the old man.
These famous opening sentences demonstrate the power of a well-crafted opening line to set the stage for a memorable and impactful work of literature. They draw readers in and set the tone, inviting them to explore the world and characters that the author has created.
150 of the most compelling opening lines in literature
Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed. The only similarity to the film is at the beginning, the introduction. Tolkien This opening line gets straight to the point, immediately introducing us to Bilbo Baggins, mentioning his race and where he lives, and even points out that Hobbits have a distinct way of measuring the years eleventy-first is what we would call 111. Was he far away and nobody told him? Middle-Earth is a great big world, and Tolkien wastes no time with getting you acquainted with it. I love this one.
No authors are named because very few of the sentences I had had named authors on the page. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen 1813 It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. That is surely strongly suggesting that that first impression might be way off base, yet it conveys that impression by making the readerdo most of the work. Possibly a bit wordy for some, but still a classic read. Of course you would, because the clear implication is that this rare occurrence just happened, and you need to learn why it happened, how it happened, and if the girl did indeed commit murder. Why is this child The Chosen One? That feels awkward, especially so early in the book. A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head.
Opening Lines For A Story (Great, Effective & Bad Examples)
Third, how does the narrator know what Munroe weighs? That book was made by Mr. Because the writing has that confident tone, the reader trustsme. Had I known, had I cherished this gift, would everything have turned out differently? WE MAY GET PAID IF YOU BUY SOMETHING OR TAKE AN ACTION AFTER CLICKING ONE OF THESE. I was running away. Oh, and you want to know whythat sentence works as well as it does? Their separate narratives form one central story about community, hope, love, and loneliness that is now one of the most beloved 20th century novels. The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway 1952 He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. In the bed of the river there were pebbles and boulders, dry and white in the sun, and the water was clear and swiftly moving and blue in the channels.
THE BEST 43 OPENING LINES IN NOVEL WRITING HISTORY
With realistic descriptions of whale hunting and detailed accounts of life at sea, the novel touches on subjects that are timeless; religion, good and evil and social status. The average lifespan of a human child, in the time since the break, was fifty-six hours. She was three days old. Related: Joan Didion's Play It As It Lays : The Dark Heart of the American Dream Lovers of To Kill a Mockingbird will feel a similar affection for Mick Kelly, a music-loving tomboy in 1930s Georgia. Translated into 25 languages.
Opening Sentences From Great Novels, Diagrammed: Lolita, 1984 & More
There's a reason these opening sentences make up some of the most quotable lines in literature—readers simply can't get them out of their heads. I like the contrast with the more formal opening line. And with so many books to read, the competition between them is wast. It follows Captain Ahab's fantastical journey to track down the whale who took his leg. I stalk you, etc. All that cold, cold, wet day.
The boy and the girl are far from innocent. We hope they encourage your own students to really push themselves the next time they start a story. But somehow it works. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone… In the late summer of that year we lived in a house in a village that looked across the river and the plain to the mountains. I am a spiteful man.
20 of Our Favorite Famous First Lines in Literature
I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. Kenton felt it caress his face like a coaxing hand. Thankfully, other writers have had more success; here are some of our favourites and what makes them so memorable. Its eyes were closed. Dear lives are lost. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth. She was Dolores on the dotted line.
But Joyce handles it perfectly, making it clear from the get-go that the vocabulary is that of a father speaking to a very young boy at his level. Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. The novel begins with question, though it will ultimately conclude that life rarely gives us answers. So if some of my could-do-better commentary below depresses you — well, forget it. What is your English level? Iago is known for his cunning betrayal of Othello, and Didion writes a similarly twisted and disturbing story of a woman chasing oblivion. While first impressions can be tough, these are the ones that won us over in just a single sentence.
