Literary notes about Hoax (AI summary)
In literature, "hoax" is employed as a multifaceted term that captures both deliberate trickery and the art of misdirection, often serving as a catalyst for suspense or satire. Writers use it to denote everything from a humorous practical joke to a sinister ruse with far-reaching consequences. For instance, it can be an assertion of authenticity when a character insists, "It's no hoax" in the midst of extraordinary events ([1]), yet it may also underscore a broader commentary on deception within society, as seen when a piece of purported news turns out to be nothing more than an elaborate fraud ([2], [3]). In this way, the word not only propels narratives forward but also invites readers to question the boundaries between truth and illusion in a manner that is both engaging and thought-provoking ([4], [5]).
- Kemp read this letter twice, "It's no hoax," he said.
— from The Invisible Man: A Grotesque Romance by H. G. Wells - "But, my dear sir, is not this paper very likely to be a hoax?"
— from A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne - Perhaps it might only be a gigantic hoax.
— from A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne - “What a shame to hoax him, Scud!” cried Martin.—“Never mind, Arthur; you shall know more about trees than he does in a week or two.”
— from Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes - It then came out that the poor man, than whom no more honest creature ever walked the earth, had been made the victim of a truly diabolical hoax.
— from The Queen Against Owen by Allen Upward
