One great example is '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 world where the clocks seem to be acting strangely.
In 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, '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 line makes the reader curious about what the advice was and starts to introduce the narrator in a way that makes you want to know more about his experiences and how this advice has influenced him.
One example could be 'It was 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. This line sets the stage for the story's exploration of marriage and relationships in that era.
Another good first line is 'She opened the door to a past she thought was long forgotten.' This line is great as it creates intrigue. The reader wants to know who 'she' is, what's behind the door, and why she thought that past was forgotten. It hooks the reader right from the start.
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 sets the stage for the story's exploration of marriage, social class, and the search for love within a society with strict rules about such matters.
Well, consider a line like 'I don't know how to start this novel, so here goes.' This is a bad first line as it shows the writer's lack of confidence and preparation. Then there's 'He opened his eyes, and the world was normal.' which is rather dull and doesn't create any excitement. Also, 'The day started like any other day, which was boring.' fails to engage the reader as it gives the impression that the story will be equally boring.
One example could be 'The day the sky turned green was the day everything changed.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them wonder what could cause the sky to turn green and how that would change things. Another is 'She opened the box and found a world she never knew existed.' This line creates mystery and makes the reader eager to find out more about the box and the world inside it.
The opening line of 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' is very powerful. It gives a sense of the duality and complexity of the era that the story is set in, and makes the reader wonder about the different situations and characters that will be explored.
Consider 'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' by Leo Tolstoy in 'Anna Karenina'. This line is profound as it sets up the exploration of family dynamics. It makes you think about the nature of happiness and unhappiness within families. Then there's 'I am an invisible man.' from Ralph Ellison's 'Invisible Man'. This simple yet powerful statement makes the reader eager to discover why the narrator is invisible and what that means in the context of the story.
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.
One of the best first lines is from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' This line immediately sets a tone of contrast and complexity, drawing the reader in with its paradoxical nature. It makes you wonder what could be both good and bad at the same time and sets the stage for a story that is full of such contradictions.