Literary notes about Loot (AI summary)
In literature the term loot creates a vivid image of the spoils seized amid chaos and conflict. It often signifies tangible wealth—money, arms, treasures—ruthlessly gathered from the ruins of battle or criminal exploits [1, 2, 3], while at the same time evoking a broader sense of moral ambiguity when fortunes are won through lawlessness [4, 5]. Some writers extend its use into metaphor, imbuing loot with the power to symbolize the dual allure and corrupting grip of greed, or even as a shorthand for the precarious rewards of adventurous risk-taking [6, 7]. This layered usage—from the straightforward depiction of plunder to the more abstract evocation of both consequence and character—demonstrates the word’s enduring appeal as a narrative device [8, 9].
- In this case, of course, there would be dollars and other sorts of “loot” knocking about.
— from Crown and AnchorUnder the Pen'ant by John C. (John Conroy) Hutcheson - The loot was ample, and the soldiers simply feasted on meat.
— from Kafir Stories: Seven Short Stories by W. C. (William Charles) Scully - He had gained money, arms, horses, and loot of all sorts; and these he distributed amongst the chiefs of tribes who now flocked to him.
— from Fire and Sword in the SudanA Personal Narrative of Fighting and Serving the Dervishes 1879-1895 by Slatin, Rudolf Carl, Freiherr von - When I saw that your launch must catch us, I put the loot away in a safe place.
— from The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle - We agreed to conceal our loot in a safe place until the country should be at peace again, and then to divide it equally among ourselves.
— from The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle - What say you?" It was a chance to fight, an opportunity to loot, and they rose to the bait as a speckled trout to a fly.
— from A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs - “There’s a lot of loot in being chief-of-police.
— from Captain Macklin: His Memoirs by Richard Harding Davis - Noun, “loot,” plunder; verb, “lootna,” to plunder.
— from Knowledge for the Time A Manual of Reading, Reference, and Conversation on Subjects of Living Interest, Useful Curiosity, and Amusing Research by John Timbs - He said— 'I have money—ten thousand dollars—hid away, the fruit of loot and thievery; save me—tell me what to do, and you shall have it, every penny.
— from Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
