Literary notes about Onset (AI summary)
In literature, the term onset is often employed to evoke the sudden beginning of events—whether describing a fierce military charge, the rapid emergence of conflict, or the unexpected arrival of a condition or emotion. Its usage ranges from vividly portraying the launch of battle, as depicted when troops initiate a storm-like advance that upends all in their path ([1], [2], [3]), to symbolically representing the moment when an emotional or physical state, like love or disease, suddenly takes hold ([4], [5]). This dynamic word thus acts as a powerful literary device, capturing the abrupt transition from calm to action and setting the tone for what is to follow ([6], [7]).
- The onset of troops is like the rush of a torrent which will even roll stones along in its course.
— from The Art of War by active 6th century B.C. Sunzi - The thre yonge men of either side do ioigne with furious and cruel onset, representing the courages of two battelles of puissaunt armies.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - At the commencement of the battle the Etrurians attacked the Aricians so furiously, that they routed them at the first onset.
— from The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Livy - It is true that this occurs sometimes at the onset, as does hemorrhage into or about the joints, or hemorrhage behind the eyeball.
— from Scurvy, Past and Present by Alfred F. Hess - What ecstasies of love from the very onset!
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova - Let them not fear the treasons of the night, The robb’d Palladium, the pretended flight: Our onset shall be made in open light.
— from The Aeneid by Virgil - Therefore the good fighter will be terrible in his onset, and prompt in his decision.
— from The Art of War by active 6th century B.C. Sunzi
