The first lines can also introduce key themes. Consider 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.' from 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This line starts the exploration of the narrator's past and the influence of his father, which are important aspects of the story.
Sometimes, the first line gives a clue about the narrative style. Like in '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' This strange and off - putting line shows that the story will be set in a world that is different from our normal reality, and that the narrative will likely be filled with unexpected elements.
We can learn about the overall tone of the novel. For example, a dark and foreboding first line might suggest a tragic or suspenseful story. Take the line 'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way' from 'Anna Karenina' by Leo Tolstoy. It gives a sense of the exploration of family and unhappiness that will be in the novel.
The first lines often introduce the setting or the era. Take 'Pride and Prejudice' starting with 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' It shows us the society's focus on marriage and wealth in the time the story is set.
We can get a sense of the tone. For example, the first line of '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.' sets a somewhat satirical and matter - of - fact tone right away. It gives an idea about the society's view on marriage and wealth at that time.
We can gain inspiration. Take the lines from 'The Great Gatsby'. The description of Gatsby's unwavering pursuit of his dream, despite the odds, can inspire us to be persistent in our own goals. These lines can also improve our language skills. Reading well - written lines from classic novels exposes us to a rich vocabulary and different writing styles, which we can then incorporate into our own writing.
We can get a sense of the tone of the novel. For example, if the first line is dark and gloomy, it might suggest that the whole story has a rather melancholic or mysterious mood. Also, it can introduce the main character or the setting in a very concise way. Just like in 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from '1984', it immediately gives us a feeling of something being off about the world in the story.
We can learn about the genre. For example, a spooky opening line might indicate a horror or mystery novel. If it starts with a grand description of a setting, it could be a historical or epic adventure. Take 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick'. It has a simple yet mysterious quality that hints at the adventure and the journey of self - discovery that is to come.
The last lines of famous novels can be very revealing. Take 'Pride and Prejudice' for instance. The last line 'Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them.' It wraps up the story of the two main characters' love and how they are grateful for the events that led them to be together.
From log lines of famous novels, we can gain insights into the themes. The lines may contain key words or phrases that point towards the central ideas of the book, like love, war, or self - discovery. Another thing is that we can study the cultural and historical context. If it's a novel set in a particular era, the log lines can show the language, values, and social norms of that time. It's like a small window into a different world.
We can learn what not to do. For example, avoid starting with a boring statement that doesn't pique the reader's curiosity.
From the top 100 first lines of novels, we can learn about different literary devices used at the very start. Some use foreshadowing. For instance, if the first line says something like 'The last time I saw him, he was walking into the fog.' It makes you anticipate that something might go wrong with that person. Also, we can learn about the genre. A first line like 'Once upon a time in a land far away...' gives an instant fairytale vibe. It helps us to categorize the novel quickly.
Well, from the second lines, we might get a sense of the narrative style. For example, in 'Pride and Prejudice', the second line starts to set the scene of the Bennett family's situation which gives an initial hint about the social context and family dynamics that will be important throughout the story.