Analysis of Famous First Lines of Stories

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.

In 'Pride and Prejudice', the first line 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' is well - known. This line not only reveals the social context of the time, where marriage was often a matter of financial and social status, but also gives a peek into the themes of the novel regarding relationships and social expectations.

One famous 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 tone for the whole novel, which is mainly about marriage and social class in the 19th - century England. It immediately draws the reader's attention to the central theme of the novel.

The first lines of famous novels are often very captivating. For example, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities'. This line immediately sets a complex and contrasting mood, making the reader wonder about the story's context and what could be so extreme. It draws the reader in by presenting a paradox that makes one eager to understand how such a situation could exist.

In 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, it starts with 'The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full - summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.' This seemingly idyllic description is a contrast to the dark and disturbing events that unfold later in the story. It gives a false sense of normalcy at the beginning.

One of the most famous first lines 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 complex and contrasting mood, hinting at the dual nature of the story that follows, with both good and bad elements intertwined.

A well - known last line is 'The darkness never left.' This is very effective as it gives a feeling of eternal doom. The 'darkness' here can be symbolic of evil or the unknown horror that has now become a permanent part of the world in the story. It creates a sense of hopelessness and a chilling atmosphere that stays with the reader long after they've finished reading.

One famous last line is from 'The Great Gatsby': 'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.' This line is so profound as it reflects on the futility of Gatsby's pursuit of the American Dream and the inescapable pull of the past. It shows that no matter how hard one tries to move forward, the past has a way of dragging one back.

The opening line 'All children, except one, grow up' from 'Peter Pan' is very engaging. It focuses on the concept of growing up, which is a central theme in the story. By highlighting that one child doesn't grow up, it piques our curiosity. We want to know who this special child is and why they are different, leading us to explore the magical world of Neverland along with Peter Pan.