great first lines from novels

The opening line of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' It's a very striking line. The idea of the clocks striking thirteen is abnormal and immediately creates a sense of unease and a dystopian atmosphere.

The first lines of great novels often serve as a hook to draw readers in. For example, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' immediately sets a complex and engaging tone. It makes you wonder about the contrast and what kind of story will unfold.

Often, the first lines of great novels are like a key to the whole story. For instance, in 'The Great Gatsby', '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 gives a sense of the narrator reflecting on his past, which is central to the story as it's a story full of memories, dreams, and illusions.

Great first lines often present something unexpected or thought - provoking. For example, the first line in 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville: 'Call me Ishmael.' It's simple yet mysterious, making the reader wonder who Ishmael is and what his story will be.

One great first line 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 focus on marriage and social class in 19th - century England.

One great first line 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.' It immediately sets the satirical and society - observing tone of the novel.

From 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.' This line reflects on the futility of trying to recapture the past and the unending struggle of the characters in the novel.

One great line is from 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee: 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.' This line emphasizes the importance of empathy.

One great first line could be 'In a world where magic slept beneath the surface, an ordinary boy was about to change everything.' It immediately sets up a world with magic and a character who will be important.

One great line is from '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.' This line sets the stage for the whole story, showing the social expectations of the time regarding marriage and wealth.