Analysis of the Most Famous Opening Lines in Novels

The opening line 'Call me Ishmael.' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville is also well - known. It's a simple yet powerful way to introduce the narrator, making the reader curious about who Ishmael is and what his story will be.

One of the well - known opening lines is 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. This simple yet powerful line gives the character a voice right from the start. It's like an invitation for the reader to follow Ishmael's story. It's also a bit mysterious as we don't know much about Ishmael yet, but we are intrigued to find out more about him and his adventures.

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.

One of the most famous opening lines 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 centered around marriage, social class, and the relationships between men and women in the 19th - century English society. It's a satirical take on the society's obsession with marriage as a means of economic and social stability.

In 'Pride and Prejudice', Jane Austen 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 opening is clever as it reflects the social values of the time. It's a statement that seems matter - of - fact, but also reveals the society's preoccupation with marriage and wealth. It gives a quick insight into the world the characters will inhabit.

Another great one is 'Call me Ishmael' from 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. It's a simple yet powerful way to introduce the narrator. By using just these three words, Melville draws the reader into Ishmael's story, making them want to know more about who he is and what his story will be about.

One of the most famous last lines is from 'The Great Gatsby': 'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.' This line sums up the futility and the unending struggle of the characters in the novel, especially Gatsby's pursuit of the American Dream which is ultimately unachievable.

One of the most famous is 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' from Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities'. This line immediately sets a complex and contrasting mood for the story.

Some opening lines in novels are really captivating. For example, 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 line sets the tone for the whole story about marriage and social class in that era. Another great one could be from '1984' which starts with a rather gloomy and controlling atmosphere description, making readers immediately feel the oppressiveness of the world Orwell is about to show.

They can also set the tone. In '1984' with 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' This opening creates an immediate sense of unease. The abnormal 'clocks were striking thirteen' gives a feeling that this is a world that is different and perhaps dystopian. It's a very effective way to start a story that is about a totalitarian regime.