They create mystery. For example, in '1984' by George Orwell, the opening line 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' This makes the reader wonder why the clocks are striking thirteen. It's not normal, and it immediately intrigues the reader, making them want to find out more about this strange world.
They often introduce an emotional state. Such as 'She was broken - hearted, but then he came along like a ray of hope.' It makes the reader care about the character's emotional journey.
They create mystery. For example, a line like 'The letter arrived on a Tuesday, but it was the contents that would change everything.' makes the reader wonder what's in the letter and how it will change things. It's a simple yet effective way to pique curiosity.
By creating mystery. For example, an opening line like 'The old book smelled of secrets long forgotten.' makes readers wonder what those secrets are. They'll keep reading to find out.
They create mystery. For example, the first line of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' The oddity of the clocks striking thirteen makes you want to read on to find out more about this strange world.
They create mystery. Take 'All children, except one, grow up' from 'Peter Pan'. It makes you wonder which child didn't grow up and why. This mystery makes the reader keep reading to find out.
Well, take 'The Great Gatsby' for example. Its opening 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 makes the reader curious about what that advice was. It creates a sense of personal narrative and mystery.
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.
They create mystery. For example, the opening of 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier: 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.' It makes readers wonder what Manderley is and why the narrator is dreaming about it. This mystery draws them in.
Some opening lines hook readers by introducing a fascinating character right away. 'Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.' This opening from 'A Christmas Carol' makes us curious about Marley. We want to know who he was, and why his death is being emphasized so much at the start. It makes us want to read on to find out more about this character and the story that follows.
They create intrigue. For example, if the first line is 'She found a letter in the attic, addressed to a stranger but filled with words of love.', it makes the reader wonder who the letter is from and who the stranger is. This mystery draws the reader in.