In 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit', the first line is 'Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter.' This simple line quickly introduces the main characters to the young readers.
The first line of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' - 'Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, "oh, what use is a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?"' It gives a vivid picture of Alice's boredom and her inquisitive nature which leads to her adventure.
One famous first line is 'All children, except one, grow up.' from 'Peter Pan'. It immediately sets a sense of mystery and difference for the character Peter Pan who doesn't grow up like the others.
They often start with something unexpected. For example, in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', 'These two very old people are the father and mother of Mr. Bucket.' It makes you wonder who Mr. Bucket is and what the story will be about.
In 'Pride and Prejudice', 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.' This first line is so iconic. It not only reveals the social context of the time where marriage was a major concern for economic and social reasons but also sets up the main theme of the novel about love, marriage, and social status.
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.'
One famous first line is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens.
In 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville, the first line is 'Call me Ishmael.' This simple yet powerful line gives a sense of the narrator's identity, or at least how he wants to be known, and it begins the epic journey that the reader will embark on with Ishmael.
In Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice', it starts with '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 stage for the story's exploration of marriage and society. It gives an immediate sense of the social norms and expectations of the time, and also hints at the central theme of finding a suitable partner, which will be explored through the various characters and their relationships throughout the novel.
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.
They are often attention - grabbing. A good first line makes the reader want to keep reading. For instance, if it starts with a strange or mysterious statement.
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.