first lines short 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 '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.

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.

Well, consider 'She found the letter on a sunny Tuesday morning, but it felt like a cold winter day.' This first line is interesting because it juxtaposes the pleasant day with the cold feeling that the letter brings. It makes the reader curious about what's in the letter and why it has such an effect.

One great first line could be 'The last man on earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door.' It immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets up a mysterious and intriguing scenario. It makes you wonder who could be knocking if he's the last man, creating a sense of suspense right from the start.

First lines can hook the reader by setting an intense mood. Such as 'The gunshots echoed through the empty street.' The sudden violence and the emptiness of the street draw the reader in. They start to imagine the scene and want to know more about what's going on. What led to the gunshots? Who is involved? These are the questions that pop into the reader's mind. This is how a strong first line can really get the reader engaged in the short story.

Common elements in first lines of short stories include an initial mood. It could be something like 'A cold wind blew through the empty streets, sending shivers down his spine.' which sets a somber and perhaps a bit of a spooky mood. Also, a hint at a problem or conflict can be there, like 'The letter in his hand was the start of all his troubles.' This makes the reader curious about what the problem is.

Consider 'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' by Leo Tolstoy in 'Anna Karenina'. This line is profound as it sets up the exploration of family dynamics. It makes you think about the nature of happiness and unhappiness within families. Then there's 'I am an invisible man.' from Ralph Ellison's 'Invisible Man'. This simple yet powerful statement makes the reader eager to discover why the narrator is invisible and what that means in the context of the story.

The first lines are crucial. They are like the hook that reels in the reader. Consider 'In the middle of the night, a strange noise came from the attic.' This creates a sense of mystery and curiosity right from the start. A boring first line might make a reader put the story down, but an exciting one makes them eager to know more.