One of the most famous opening 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 tone for the whole novel which is centered around marriage, social class, and the relationships between men and women in the 19th - century English society. It's a satirical take on the society's obsession with marriage as a means of economic and social stability.
One of the most famous is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. This line immediately sets a tone of contrast and mystery, making the reader wonder about the times being described.
There are many classic ways to start a literary work. Here are some examples:
This was a dark era, but it was also a bright era. - Thomas Hardy,"The D'Urbervilles"
At this moment, silence was better than sound. - Cao Xueqin's Dream of the Red Chamber
Since ancient times, who hasn't died? - Lu You, Crossing the Lingding Ocean
Life is like a dream, a moon in the river. - Su Shi's "Jiangcheng Zi: Hunting in Mizhou"
The wind is blowing, the Yi River is cold, and the strong man will never return. - Jing Ke's Yi Shui Han
Asking you how much sorrow you can have is like a river flowing eastward in spring. - Li Yu's Happy Meeting
Asking you how much kindness you can have is like a night of wind and rain dispersing the vast sky. - Li Qingzhao's Dream Like Order
The world is long and the passers-by are in a hurry to work hard for a living until the last empty talk. - The Deer and the Cauldron by Jin Yong
Heaven, earth, black, yellow, universe, everything in the wilderness has cracks. That's where light comes in. - The Sun Also Rises
Don't you see the Yellow River's water rushing from heaven to the sea and never returning? - Li Bai's << Wine >>
These prologues were full of poetry and philosophy, which could resonate with the readers and lay a good foundation for the beginning of the story.
The following are some classic opening lines in literature:
1 "Dream of the Red Chamber"-"Jia Baoyu couldn't help but cry because of his past."
" One Hundred Years of Solitude "-" Lonely people on this lonely planet are Longing for a return to their own kind."
3 Romance of the Three Kingdoms-"The world's general trend will be divided for a long time and will be divided for a long time. During the weekend, we will rely on Qin to annex the two capitals and attack Chu and Han for hegemony."
4 "Water Margins"-"The officials forced the people to rebel, and the people had to rebel. The Righteous Men of Liangshan Lake rose up to fight against the government army."
5 Journey to the West--
6 "The Scholars 'Unofficial History"-"A paper full of absurd words and bitter tears. It's said that authors are crazy, but who can understand the meaning behind it?"
The Ordinary World-" The road of life is very long. Everyone has to walk a long road."
Alive-"I live to live as long as I can."
The Snowy Kingdom-"In this cold and beautiful world, everyone is surrounded by loneliness."
10 The Little Prince-"If you are a fox who has tamed animals, you must be very careful with them. Because they may remember the precious relationship between you and them and hope to see you again."
There are many prologues in literature. Here are some classic prologues:
1 " This is a dark age, and the people are in dire straits. I am just one of the survivors." - Ordinary World
2 " In this world, some people are destined to wander until they find their home." - One Hundred Years of Solitude
" I came to this world to find my soul mate." - The Catcher in the Rye
" Life is like a ball. The person who taught you the first steps may not be able to accompany you until the end." - One Hundred Years of Solitude
I'm not a storyteller. I'm just someone who's here to listen to your story." - Dream of the Red Chamber
" In this world, everyone has their own story, and this story is our life." - Alive
"Life is like a fleeting moment between heaven and earth." - Ode to the Red Cliff
" I came to this world not to change the world but to change myself." - The Three-Body Problem
" You are afraid of death, but you don't know that the fear of death comes from your ignorance of it." - Doctor Who
" Everyone should have a dream, a dream that they should strive for." - The Shawshank Redemption
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 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.
Well, from 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte, 'There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.' This unassuming opening is actually quite effective. It creates a sense of confinement and the start of a story that will likely involve the main character breaking free from some sort of restriction, whether it be physical or emotional.
There are many prologues in literature. Here are some classic examples:
This was a noisy and mysterious world, full of grotesque sights and motley colors. However, as you delve deeper into its insides, you will realize that it is actually not scary. - One Hundred Years of Solitude
Do you believe in fate? I believe it because it always comes to us when we least expect it. - Alive
I used to think that parting was a kind of pain until that day, when I realized that it was actually a kind of enjoyment. - White Night Journey
In this world, some people are destined to experience more pain than others, but their sacrifices can make us stronger. - The Three-Body Problem
Life is like a ball, the person who taught you the first steps may not be able to accompany you until the end. - One Hundred Years of Solitude
These introductions were full of imagination and philosophical depth, able to attract the reader's attention and guide the reader into the world of the story.
The following are some classic opening lines in literature:
1. Wang Xifeng's opening remarks in Dream of the Red Chamber: " Today, I see that you are so straightforward, so I came to welcome you."
2. Sun Wukong's opening remarks in Journey to the West: "I am Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. He was subdued by Lord Tathagata and imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain."
3. Lin Chong's opening remarks in Water Margins: "Today I came to Liangshanpo to befriend my brother, Lin Chong, and went to Tokyo to get the emperor's edict to avenge Chao Gai."
4. Cao Cao's opening remarks in Romance of the Three Kingdoms: " The world is full of wind and clouds. When my generation enters the Jianghu, the years urge the emperor to seek hegemony. In the laughter, life is drunk."
5 Fan Jin's opening remarks in The Scholars: " When I left home when I was young, my old man returned to my hometown and my accent did not change. When the children meet, they don't know each other. They laugh and ask where the guests come from."
6. Bai Jingjing's opening remarks in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: " Asking you how much sorrow you can have is like a river flowing eastward in spring."
7. Jean Valen's opening remarks in "Miserables":"I am a poor orphan, I am a helpless tramp."
8. The opening remarks of José Alcadeo Garcia Marquez in " One Hundred Years of Solitude ":" The Marquez family is a poor family in Habana, Brazil. The history of this family can be traced back to 50 years ago."
These opening lines were filled with literary flavor and were fascinating, making people interested in the following plot.