Another example is the first line of Kate Chopin's 'The Story of an Hour' - 'Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death'. This line hooks the reader by introducing a character with a health issue and a significant event, making us eager to see how the story unfolds.
Some famous first lines in short stories are very captivating. For example, in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Cask of Amontillado', the first line 'The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could' immediately sets a tone of vengeance and mystery. It makes the reader wonder what these 'injuries' are and what the narrator is planning.
Some famous first lines immediately draw readers in. For example, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from George Orwell's '1984'. This line sets an unusual and slightly off - putting atmosphere right from the start, making the reader curious about what kind of world this is where the clocks strike thirteen. It gives a sense of a world that is different from our own, perhaps dystopian.
In '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 first line is so iconic. It not only reveals the social context of the time where marriage was a major concern for economic and social reasons but also sets up the main theme of the novel about love, marriage, and social status.
In 'Pride and Prejudice', the first line 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' is well - known. This line not only reveals the social context of the time, where marriage was often a matter of financial and social status, but also gives a peek into the themes of the novel regarding relationships and social expectations.
One famous first line 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 sets the tone for the whole novel, which is mainly about marriage and social class in the 19th - century England. It immediately draws the reader's attention to the central theme of the novel.
The first lines of famous novels are often very captivating. For example, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities'. This line immediately sets a complex and contrasting mood, making the reader wonder about the story's context and what could be so extreme. It draws the reader in by presenting a paradox that makes one eager to understand how such a situation could exist.
One of the most famous first lines is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. This line immediately sets a complex and contrasting mood, hinting at the dual nature of the story that follows, with both good and bad elements intertwined.
They are often attention - grabbing. A good first line makes the reader want to keep reading. For instance, if it starts with a strange or mysterious statement.
A well - known last line is 'The darkness never left.' This is very effective as it gives a feeling of eternal doom. The 'darkness' here can be symbolic of evil or the unknown horror that has now become a permanent part of the world in the story. It creates a sense of hopelessness and a chilling atmosphere that stays with the reader long after they've finished reading.
They create mystery. For instance, a first line like 'She was found dead in the attic, but no one knew how she got there.' It makes the reader want to find out what happened. Mystery drives the reader to keep reading to solve the puzzle.
A very effective short story opening line is 'There was a man who was born old and grew younger every day.' This type of opening is so intriguing because it defies our normal understanding of the aging process. It makes the reader eager to find out more about this man, how such a thing is possible, and what his story will be. It creates a sense of mystery right from the start, which is a key element in a good short story opening.