What are some famous first lines of fiction?

In 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, the first line is '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 not only gives a sense of the social context but also hints at the main themes of marriage and wealth that will be explored in the novel. It's a great example of how the first line can draw the reader in and make them curious about what's to come.

Another example is 'Call Me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. This simple yet powerful first line draws the reader into the story of Ishmael's adventures on the whaling ship. It gives a sense of mystery and makes you wonder who Ishmael is and what his story will be about.

The line 'All children, except one, grow up.' from 'Peter Pan' by J.M. Barrie. It's a simple yet thought - provoking start. It makes you curious about that one child who doesn't grow up and what kind of world he or she is in.

In 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens, it starts with 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' This line sets the stage for the complex and contrasting world that the story unfolds in. It gives a sense of the duality and turmoil that the characters will experience during the French Revolution era which is the backdrop of the novel.

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 complexity.

One famous line is ' Royale with cheese.' It's a simple yet memorable line that shows the characters' different cultural references. In France, a Quarter Pounder is called a Royale with cheese because of the metric system.

One great first line is from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' This line immediately sets a tone of contrast and complexity, making the reader curious about what the story will entail.

A classic example is 'Call me Ishmael.' from Herman Melville's 'Moby - Dick'. It's simple yet so effective. It makes the reader wonder who Ishmael is, and it gives an air of a personal account about to be shared. Just these three words are enough to start the reader on a journey into the story.

They create mystery. For example, the first line of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' The oddity of the clocks striking thirteen makes you want to read on to find out more about this strange world.

The first line can create a mood. For example, 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.' sets a reflective mood. It makes the reader wonder what that advice was and how it relates to the story.