The best preliminary sentences in long-form fictional narratives serve to right away seize the reader’s consideration and set up the story’s tone, setting, or central battle. A compelling instance can be, “It was the perfect of occasions, it was the worst of occasions,” which swiftly introduces the dualistic nature of the French Revolution in Dickens’ A Story of Two Cities.
The impression of those sentences can’t be overstated. They act because the gateway to the reader’s engagement, figuring out whether or not the viewers will proceed studying. Traditionally, authors have employed numerous methods, from stark pronouncements to evocative descriptions, to safe this preliminary captivation. The worth lies of their skill to create an instantaneous reference to the narrative and foreshadow the themes and characters to come back.