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.
Many famous first lines in short stories set the mood. They can create an atmosphere of suspense, like in a thriller short story, or a feeling of melancholy in a more somber tale. They also might introduce a key character or situation right away. For example, in a short story about a detective, the first line could introduce the detective and the case he is about to solve. This gives the reader an immediate focus and something to look forward to as they continue reading.
Some first lines in short stories are thought - provoking. They might pose a question, either directly or indirectly. This makes the reader start thinking and trying to figure things out from the very beginning, which draws them deeper into the story. For example, a first line like 'What if the world you knew was a lie?' would make the reader immediately start to question the nature of the story's world and be eager to find out more.
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.
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.
In 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, it starts with 'The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full - summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.' This seemingly idyllic description is a contrast to the dark and disturbing events that unfold later in the story. It gives a false sense of normalcy at the beginning.
A great first line is from 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway: 'The hills across the valley of the Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun.' Hemingway's concise description gives a sense of the setting, which is important as the story unfolds in this sparse landscape.
One characteristic is the intense sense of intimacy. Since the story is told from the first - person perspective, the reader gets a closer look into the narrator's thoughts and feelings. For example, in 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath, we are right there with the narrator as she battles her mental health issues.
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.
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.
The first lines are important because they hook the reader. For example, in 'Call of the Wild' by Jack London, 'Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing...' This makes you wonder what trouble is brewing for Buck and draws you in.
One famous first line is 'All children, except one, grow up.' from 'Peter Pan'. It immediately sets a sense of mystery and difference for the character Peter Pan who doesn't grow up like the others.
Famous short stories often have a concise plot. They can quickly draw readers in and deliver a complete story arc in a short space. For example, in 'The Most Dangerous Game' by Richard Connell, the plot of a man being hunted on an island is established very quickly.