How do final lines of novels contribute to the overall meaning?

In some novels, the ending line can be a twist that completely changes how we view the whole story. Consider 'The Sixth Sense' which is based on a novel. The ending line reveals the truth that the main character has been dead all along. This kind of ending line forces the reader to re - evaluate everything they've read before and adds a whole new layer of meaning to the story.

The last two lines are crucial for the overall meaning. They might act as a summary of the entire narrative arc. Throughout the novel, we see the degradation of the human spirit in the face of extreme evil. The last two lines could be the culmination of that, showing that even after the physical ordeal has ended, the mental and spiritual toll lingers. It's a way of saying that the night, symbolizing the darkness of the Holocaust, doesn't really end even when the events seem to be over. It stays with the survivors and becomes a part of them forever.

Themes in novels contribute to the overall meaning by providing a unifying idea. For instance, if the theme is 'hope', it gives the story a positive undercurrent throughout. They also help readers to connect different elements of the story.

The lines about the humble birth, such as '...laid him in a manger...' also play a role. They show that Jesus came into the world in a simple and unassuming way. This humility is an important part of the Christmas message, teaching us values like simplicity and the ability to find beauty and significance in the ordinary. It also shows that the most important things can start from the most unpretentious beginnings.

Famous passages often sum up the main themes. For example, in '1984' by George Orwell, 'Big Brother is watching you' is a key passage. It immediately gives the sense of a totalitarian regime where privacy is non - existent and surveillance is omnipresent, which is a central theme of the novel.

Famous first lines often set the mood. For example, the first line of '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.' It gives a sense of reflection and sets a somewhat nostalgic mood. This mood stays throughout the novel as Nick Carraway looks back on the events of that summer.

The second lines contribute by providing more context. In a historical novel, it might give details about the time period like 'The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, a remnant of the recent battle.' This helps the reader understand the backdrop. Moreover, it can introduce the conflict. If the first line sets the stage, the second can hint at the problem. In a love story, the second line could say 'But she knew their love was doomed from the start.' This foreshadows the challenges the couple will face.

Often, in a novel like Middlemarch, the last lines can offer a final commentary on the society depicted. If the novel has been showing the social hierarchies and the restrictions they impose, the last lines could either suggest hope for change or a resigned acceptance of the status quo. This would be integral to the overall meaning as it shows how the individual characters' stories are shaped by and also shape the society they live in. It could also provide a sense of finality to the exploration of moral and ethical questions that have been raised throughout the novel, perhaps leaving the reader with a final thought on what is right and wrong in the context of Middlemarch's world.

Quotes are like signposts in novels. In 'The Catcher in the Rye' with Holden's 'I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff.' It gives a sense of Holden's protective and somewhat lost nature, and it ties into the overall theme of the loss of innocence and the search for meaning in a confusing world.

Well, in many novels, the plot line directly reflects the theme. For example, in 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell, the plot where the pigs gradually take over and become as corrupt as the humans they once rebelled against is a clear illustration of the theme of power corrupting. The plot developments show how the ideals of the revolution are betrayed.