How do opening lines of classic novels attract readers?

Many use vivid descriptions. By painting a picture in the reader's mind right from the start, like a description of a unique setting or an interesting character. For instance, an opening line that describes a spooky old house makes you want to know what's inside. Also, some opening lines introduce a conflict early on, which makes readers eager to see how it will be resolved.

They create mystery. For example, the opening of 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier: 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.' It makes readers wonder what Manderley is and why the narrator is dreaming about it. This mystery draws them in.

Well, some opening lines create mystery. For example, if it starts with something really strange like in 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson, it makes you want to find out more. His opening line has this cool, cyberpunk vibe that draws you in.

They create mystery. For example, a line like 'The man in the black suit came early in the morning.' makes you wonder who the man is and what his purpose is. It hooks the reader right away.

Well, first lines can introduce a mystery. For example, in 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, '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 wonder what that advice was and what kind of experiences the narrator has had because of it. It hooks the reader by making them want to find out more about the narrator and their story.

Some first lines use a strong statement. In '1984' with 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' The abnormal time - the clocks striking thirteen - grabs the reader's attention. It makes them want to explore this strange world where normal rules seem to be broken.

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.

They create intrigue. For instance, the first line of '1984' by George Orwell 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' The abnormal 'clocks were striking thirteen' makes readers want to know more about this strange world.

They can set the mood. A dark and foreboding opening like in some gothic novels can draw in readers who enjoy that kind of atmosphere. Also, by presenting a unique or extreme situation in the opening, such as the chaotic 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' which gives a sense of a world full of contradictions and makes the reader eager to understand it.

They often introduce an emotional state. Such as 'She was broken - hearted, but then he came along like a ray of hope.' It makes the reader care about the character's emotional journey.