Literary notes about Defiant (AI summary)
"Defiant" in literature is a multifaceted term, used to imbue characters and settings with an energy of rebellion and resistance. Authors often employ it to signal a refusal to yield, whether through a mere gesture—a tilted chin or a determined glance ([1], [2], [3])—or through a tone of voice or attitude that challenges authority and convention ([4], [5], [6]). It is versatile enough to capture subtle internal conflicts as well as overt antagonism, as when a character’s eyes or expressions portray defiant determination in the face of overwhelming pressure ([7], [8]). Moreover, "defiant" occasionally extends beyond individual demeanor to describe broader scenes of resistance or nonconformity, whether in social or natural settings ([9], [10]). Ultimately, the term provides a rich, evocative shorthand for a range of human responses—from quiet endurance to bold protest—as writers aim to evoke the uncompromising spirit of characters confronting their world ([11], [12]).
- Her chin was still at a slightly defiant tilt.
— from Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter - Suddenly she drew herself up with a proud, defiant gesture, and her eyes glittered with a light that was not entirely reflected from the fire.
— from Lady Audley's Secret by M. E. Braddon - Josie descended from her perch, flushed with victory, and darted a defiant glance at Anne.
— from Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery - The Irish officer stood up disordered and defiant on the threshold.
— from The innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton - Jo can't prevent my seeing her, and I shall stay and do it as long as I like," interrupted Laurie in a defiant tone.
— from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - “If I did I certainly should not tell you,” Raskolnikov answered with defiant and haughty contempt.
— from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - Her iron-grey hair hung in heavy bands on either side of her face—her dark eyes looked straight forward, with a hard, defiant, implacable stare.
— from The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - She was in a very paroxysm of self-castigation, and, concluding, she looked with defiant resolution at the elder.
— from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - On this rock three pelicans are standing in a defiant attitude.
— from The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Tales by Bret Harte - The German Imperial Government started in 1914 with a defiant assurance of its own power.
— from Psychological Warfare by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger - Misery taught him nothing more than defiant endurance of it.
— from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy - It was a defiant yell, like a sound shouted into the surf or screamed off a cliff.
— from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
