The opening of 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville, 'Call me Ishmael.' is very simple yet effective. It's as if the narrator is directly addressing the reader, inviting them into his world. It also gives a sense of mystery as we don't know much about Ishmael at this point, but we are eager to find out as we start reading the novel.
In 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens, the opening sentence 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' is quite remarkable. It gives a sense of contrast and duality that pervades the entire novel, which is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. It makes the reader curious about what exactly these 'times' are and how they will unfold in the story.
One of the best opening sentences 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 sentence immediately sets the tone for the story which is largely about marriage and social status in the 19th - century English society.
One of the best is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. It immediately sets a tone of contrast and historical context, making the reader wonder about the times being described.
The opening sentence of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' is also remarkable. The unexpected 'clocks were striking thirteen' creates a sense of unease and immediately makes the reader curious about this strange world. It's a great start to introduce the dystopian setting of the novel.
One of the best opening sentences is from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'. This immediately sets a complex and thought - provoking mood, making the reader wonder about the contrast it presents. It draws you in and makes you curious about the story that will unfold in these two very different 'times'.
The opening sentence 'The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.' is excellent. It immediately makes the reader think about the concept of the past and how it might be different. It can lead to all sorts of stories, whether it's about a character's personal past or a historical setting.
The opening of '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.' It's a great opening as it gives a sense of the social values and expectations of the time, and also intrigues the reader about the relationships to come.
One could be 'The day the world ended began like any other.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention by suggesting something momentous is about to be revealed. It sets a mysterious and anticipatory tone, making the reader wonder what exactly made this day different from the others.
One famous opening is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' from Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities'. This sentence immediately sets a contrast and draws the reader in, making them wonder about the times being described.
The novel '1984' by George Orwell begins with 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' This opening immediately sets an off - kilter and somewhat dystopian mood. It makes the reader aware that things in this world are not quite as they should be, and draws them into the story to find out more about this strange place where the normal rules seem to be broken.
Here's another one: 'The door slammed shut behind her, and she knew she could never go back.' This opening sentence gives a sense of finality and a feeling of a new beginning. It makes the reader curious about the character, why she can't go back, and what lies ahead for her.
They create intrigue. For example, a good opening might pose a question in the reader's mind. If a novel starts with 'The door was ajar, and a strange noise came from within.', it makes the reader wonder what's behind the door and what the noise is.