Excellent opening lines
The opening line is the first impression, the welcome mat, the literary handshake. It’s the chance to dazzle your reader and set the tone for the entire story. You don’t have to be Charles Dickens to create a memorable opener, but studying the masters can certainly help! Here, we will explore some excellent opening lines, discuss why they work, and hopefully inspire you to craft your own unforgettable start.
Opening lines that make you think
1. 1984 by George Orwell
“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
Orwell’s introduction throws us into a simultaneously familiar and strange world, making us question what kind of society has thirteen-hour clocks.
2. 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 introduces us to the central theme of marriage in a humorous and satirical way.
Opening lines that establish character
3. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
“Call me Ishmael.”
Melville’s succinct introduction to the narrator immediately sparks curiosity and invites us into his world.
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
“There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.”
The simplicity of this sentence tells us a great deal about Jane’s restricted life, setting the tone for the novel’s exploration of freedom and confinement.
Opening lines that paint a picture
5. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
Tolkien’s line instantly transports us to Middle-earth, intriguing us to learn more about hobbits and their subterranean lifestyle.
6. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”
Márquez blends the mundane and the extraordinary in this opening line, setting the stage for the magical realism that permeates the novel.
Opening lines that set a tone
7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
“It was a pleasure to burn.”
Bradbury’s unsettling opening sets the mood for a dystopian story where fire is a symbol of destruction and control.
8. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
“All children, except one, grow up.”
This simple line introduces us to the eternal youth of Peter Pan and establishes the whimsical tone of the novel.
Crafting your own excellent opener
The opening line is like the wrapping paper of your story – it should be attractive enough to compel the reader to see what’s inside. Whether you’re aiming to provoke thought, create a vivid image, introduce a character, or set a tone, a well-crafted opening line can be a powerful tool in your writer’s arsenal.
