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Literary notes about Alert (AI summary)

In literature, the word "alert" encompasses both a physical and mental readiness that lends immediacy and depth to a scene. It can describe a character’s vigilant, keen awareness—as when one is listening with ears on the alert or poised for unexpected danger [1], [2]—or highlight an enduring state of intellectual acuity, where attention is sharply focused on the surrounding events [3], [4]. In adventure and action narratives, being alert often signals the readiness to react at a moment’s notice, whether aboard a ship [5], or in the midst of anticipated conflict [6]. At the same time, authors use "alert" to infuse characters with a dynamic, spirited energy, portraying them as both perceptive and quick to seize upon opportunities or threats [7], [8]. Overall, the term enriches literary description by bridging physical vigilance and mental precision in diverse settings [9], [10].
  1. All three then sat down with their heads together and their ears on the alert.
    — from The three musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet
  2. He awoke in an evil temper, and Kemp, alert for every sound, heard his pattering feet rush suddenly across the bedroom overhead.
    — from The Invisible Man: A Grotesque Romance by H. G. Wells
  3. The eye must be educated to be alert, discriminating, and microscopic.
    — from Pushing to the Front by Orison Swett Marden
  4. In Greek life, observation was acute and alert; and thinking was free almost to the point of irresponsible speculations.
    — from Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education by John Dewey
  5. When I stepped aboard, the second mate called me aft, and gave me a large bundle, directed to me, and marked "Ship Alert."
    — from Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
  6. He was instructed to notify his officers to be on the alert for any indications of battle.
    — from Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Complete by Ulysses S. Grant
  7. “Well, I don't,” he said, stubbornly, yet nervous and alert for what should come next.
    — from Sister Carrie: A Novel by Theodore Dreiser
  8. “One saunters along, head up, mind alert, and eyes open.
    — from Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant by Guy de Maupassant
  9. he protested, suddenly sitting up, alert and angry.
    — from Howards End by E. M. Forster
  10. He was small, nervous, alert with intelligent light-blue eyes and mobile features.
    — from The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

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