Literary notes about Grunted (AI summary)
The verb “grunted” often functions as a concise means to convey a character’s immediate, sometimes unrefined response—whether it is verbal, physical, or even animalistic. In some works, it underscores a moment of irritation or dismissal, as when a character interjects a terse remark that disrupts their inner contemplation [1]. Elsewhere, it expresses hesitance or reluctant agreement in response to dialogue, like a half-hearted acknowledgment or an uncertain decision [2, 3, 4]. In narratives that blur the line between human and animal behavior, the grunt may evoke primal instincts or a comic resemblance to the animal world [5, 6]. Overall, the term is deployed to encapsulate a spectrum of emotions, from exasperation and resignation to subtle humor and raw instinct.
- Mr Verloc, who was sufficiently magnificent in his way, had grunted the remark impatiently aside as interfering with his meditations.
— from The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale by Joseph Conrad - Is your underwear purple, too?” Amory grunted impolitely.
— from This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald - If I don't—well?” He grunted undecidedly.
— from The island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells - “No!” he grunted dryly, and let himself back heavily against the back of his chair.
— from The Social Cancer: A Complete English Version of Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal - They were like pigs—head, hair, and all, and they grunted just as pigs do; but their senses were the same as before, and they remembered everything.
— from The Odyssey by Homer - The Badger trotted forward a pace or two, then grunted, "H'm!
— from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
