great first lines of short stories

One great first line could be 'The last man on earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets up a mysterious and intriguing scenario. It makes you wonder who could be knocking if he's the last man, creating a sense of suspense right from the start.

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.

They can also set an unusual mood. Take the line 'The fog crept in on little cat feet, but it brought a sense of dread with it.' The description of the fog combined with the sense of dread draws the reader in. They want to know more about this setting and what will happen because of this mood. Moreover, first lines that introduce a unique character can hook the reader. Like 'There was a girl who could see the future in her dreams, but she wished she couldn't.' This makes the reader interested in this girl's story, her powers, and her wish not to have them.

In Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre', the line 'There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.' starts the story. It gives a sense of confinement which is relevant to Jane's situation as an orphan at Gateshead. It makes the reader curious about why she can't go for a walk and what kind of life she leads.

Great first lines draw the reader in instantly. For example, if the first line is 'She found the letter in a drawer, yellowed with age and secrets.' It makes you want to know what the letter says and why it's full of secrets. This immediate engagement is crucial for a good reading experience.

One great opening line could be 'It was a dark and stormy night.' This classic line immediately sets a mood of mystery and unease. It makes the reader wonder what might be happening in such a forbidding setting.

Some famous first lines immediately draw readers in. For example, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' from George Orwell's '1984'. This line sets an unusual and slightly off - putting atmosphere right from the start, making the reader curious about what kind of world this is where the clocks strike thirteen. It gives a sense of a world that is different from our own, perhaps dystopian.

Some famous first lines in short stories are very captivating. For example, in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Cask of Amontillado', the first line 'The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could' immediately sets a tone of vengeance and mystery. It makes the reader wonder what these 'injuries' are and what the narrator is planning.

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.