Throughout these passages, “failed” is used to capture moments of thwarted effort, broken resolve, or unrealized expectation. Characters are often silenced by overwhelming emotion (“words failed him” [1], [2]), or they experience complete defeat—as simply stated in “He failed completely” [3]. Sometimes the word underscores the ruin of carefully laid plans (“failed to restore order” [4]) or unfulfilled obligations (“failed in my duty” [5]). In other instances it points to loss of courage (“his courage failed him” [6], [7]) or the inability to exert lasting influence (“failed to produce the slightest impression” [8]). Whether used to convey minor setbacks or life-altering losses, “failed” consistently marks a boundary between aspiration and disappointment ([9], [10]), underscoring the human struggle against limitation in literature.