Some of the great novel openings include 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. Another is 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville.
Well, in 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, it starts with 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' Also, '1984' by George Orwell begins with 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' There are many more that are considered among the top ten for their ability to draw the reader in right away, setting the tone, mood, and introducing key themes or characters.
Sure. 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov opens with 'Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul.' It's a very distinctive and controversial opening. Another is 'The Catcher in the Rye' which begins 'If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like.'
One of the best openings 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 the story which is centered around marriage and social status in 19th - century England.
Beginning with an interesting dialogue can also be great. For example, '"You can't be serious," she hissed, her eyes wide with disbelief.' It throws the reader right into the middle of a situation and makes them wonder what's going on. Another option is to start with a statement that challenges the reader's thinking, such as 'The world as we know it is a lie, and I was about to discover the truth.' This kind of opening sets up a sense of intrigue and encourages the reader to keep reading to find out more.
The opening of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' It immediately creates a sense of unease and a dystopian world where things are not as they should be. The abnormal time gives the reader a feeling that this is a world with its own strange rules.
In '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 opening is brilliant as it quickly establishes a social context and the central theme of marriage and wealth that runs throughout the novel.
In 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, the opening 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 brilliant. It not only gives a peek into the society's values and the central theme of marriage in the novel but also has a touch of humor. It makes the reader curious about how the story will unfold around this concept.
In my opinion, 'As the old house creaked and groaned, he felt a presence he couldn't explain. The air was thick with a stench of decay, and the shadows seemed to move on their own.' is a very effective opening. The description of the house gives a sense of age and decay, which is often associated with horror. The unexplained presence and the moving shadows build tension right from the start.
Another is 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. It's a simple yet direct way to introduce the narrator, making the reader curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be.
One famous opening is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. This immediately sets a contrastive and complex tone for the story.
One famous opening is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' from Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities'. This opening immediately sets a contrast and draws the reader into the complex world of the story.