Another is 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. It's a simple yet direct way to introduce the narrator, making the reader curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be.
Beginning with an interesting dialogue can also be great. For example, '"You can't be serious," she hissed, her eyes wide with disbelief.' It throws the reader right into the middle of a situation and makes them wonder what's going on. Another option is to start with a statement that challenges the reader's thinking, such as 'The world as we know it is a lie, and I was about to discover the truth.' This kind of opening sets up a sense of intrigue and encourages the reader to keep reading to find out more.
The opening of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' It immediately creates a sense of unease and a dystopian world where things are not as they should be. The abnormal time gives the reader a feeling that this is a world with its own strange rules.
In '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 opening is brilliant as it quickly establishes a social context and the central theme of marriage and wealth that runs throughout the novel.
In 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, the opening 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 brilliant. It not only gives a peek into the society's values and the central theme of marriage in the novel but also has a touch of humor. It makes the reader curious about how the story will unfold around this concept.
One famous opening is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' from 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens. This immediately sets a contrastive and complex tone for the story.
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.
One famous opening is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' from Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities'. This opening immediately sets a contrast and draws the reader into the complex world of the story.
Well, one great opening could be a mysterious murder scene that immediately hooks the reader. Like in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' where a body is found in a strange and puzzling way.
One of the best openings 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 immediately sets the tone for the story which is centered around marriage and social status in 19th - century England.
One common opening is 'Once upon a time...' which is often used in fairy tales. It immediately sets a story - telling mood and makes the listener or reader expect a fictional, often magical story. Another is 'In a small town...' which gives a sense of a specific setting right from the start. It can make the reader wonder what kind of people live in that town and what will happen there.