What are the 15 of the best first lines in fiction?
The line 'A screaming comes across the sky' from 'Gravity's Rainbow' is quite arresting as a first line. It grabs the reader's attention and creates an atmosphere of unease. 'The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there' from 'The Go - Between' is another excellent first line. It makes the reader start to think about the concept of the past. Also, 'I am an invisible man' from 'Invisible Man' is a very impactful first line, as it immediately makes the reader wonder how and why the narrator is invisible.
Some of the best first lines in fiction include 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities'. This line immediately sets a contrastive and thought - provoking mood. Another great one is 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick', which is a simple yet powerful introduction to the narrator. And 'All children, except one, grow up' from 'Peter Pan' which gives a sense of the special nature of the story's main character right from the start.
Well, one of the best first lines is 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since' from 'The Great Gatsby'. It creates a sense of mystery and reflection. 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way' from 'Anna Karenina' is also a very well - known first line. It makes the reader think about the nature of family and happiness. Then there's 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife' from 'Pride and Prejudice', which sets the stage for the social and romantic themes of the novel.
What are the 10 best first lines in fiction?
One of the best first lines could be 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from George Orwell's '1984'. It immediately sets an off - kilter mood, making the reader wonder about this strange world where the clocks do something unexpected. Another great one is 'Call me Ishmael.' from 'Moby - Dick'. It's a simple yet powerful invitation for the reader to follow Ishmael on his journey. And 'All children, except one, grow up.' from 'Peter Pan' is also excellent as it creates a sense of mystery about the one child who doesn't grow up.
What are some of the best first lines in fiction?
One of the best first lines is from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen: '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 immediately sets the tone for a story about marriage and social status in the Regency era.
What are some of the best first lines in science fiction?
In 'Dune' by Frank Herbert, the first line 'A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.' is quite remarkable. It gives a sense of the importance of precision and balance in the complex world that is about to be unfolded in the story. It also has an air of mystery, as the reader wonders what these 'balances' are and how they relate to the beginning of the tale.
What are the best first lines in fiction according to the BBC?
Some of the best first lines in fiction, as per the BBC, might include 'Call me Ishmael' from Moby-Dick. It immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets a mysterious tone.
What makes the 10 best first lines in fiction so effective?
They create intrigue. For example, a line like 'Call me Ishmael.' makes you wonder who Ishmael is and what his story will be. It's a simple way to hook the reader. They also set the tone. If the first line is something dark like 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.', it gives a sense of unease and a strange world that the reader is about to enter. Another factor is that they can introduce a key theme. Like 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' which immediately tells us that marriage and wealth are going to be important themes in 'Pride and Prejudice'.
What are the best lines in fiction?
One of the best lines in fiction is 'All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us' from 'The Lord of the Rings'. It's a profound statement about free will and making the most of our lives.
What are the 10 best first lines of novels?
One great first line is 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife' from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. 'We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold' from 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' by Hunter S. Thompson is very distinct. 'Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy' from 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' by C.S. Lewis is a simple yet effective start.
What are the 25 best first lines of novels?
The first line 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' from Anna Karenina is very profound. It sets up the exploration of family dynamics. 'I am an invisible man.' from Invisible Man is a powerful start, making you curious about how someone can be invisible. 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.' from Rebecca is a haunting start. It has an air of mystery and makes you want to know more about Manderley and why the narrator is dreaming about it.
What are some of the best first lines in fiction and why are they considered great?
A great first line is 'All children, except one, grow up.' from J.M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan'. It's simple yet profound. It makes you curious about that one child who doesn't grow up. It also has a touch of melancholy as it seems to suggest that growing up is the norm and this one child is an exception, which sets the stage for the magical and somewhat bittersweet story of Peter Pan.
How do the best first lines in fiction engage readers?
They create mystery. For example, like the line from 'The Hobbit' - 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.' It makes the reader wonder what a hobbit is. This simple yet mysterious start compels the reader to keep reading to find out.