Literary notes about Grumbling (AI summary)
Literary works often employ the word "grumbling" to convey a range of subtle emotions, from mild irritations to deeper discontents, enriching the narrative with authenticity and nuance. Authors use it to reveal a character’s inner turmoil or reluctant acceptance of their fate—as when modest complaints underscore broader social injustices or personal shortcomings [1, 2]. At times, grumbling appears as a quietly defiant murmur during moments of hardship, suggesting an unspoken rebellion or a touch of humor in the face of adversity [3, 4]. In other contexts, it is used to characterize habitual discontent, whether in familial discord or the everyday trials of life, thereby adding a realistic and relatable voice that resonates with readers [5, 6].
- Salm, as we said, received only half payment of arrears; naturally not without grumbling.
— from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle - Where such taxes, therefore, are properly assessed, and upon proper commodities, they are paid with less grumbling than any other.
— from An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith - The son tossed a silver coin through the sunlight, grumbling something about beggars and jugglers.
— from Kim by Rudyard Kipling - Then at last Summerlee, with his sneer and his pipe, would move forwards, and Challenger would come rolling and grumbling after.
— from The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle - She was cross and grumbling from morning till night.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov - For some time his wife went on grumbling, and declaring that to cut the Easter cake before reaching home was a sin and not the proper thing.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
