Literary notes about Ruse (AI summary)
In literature, the term ruse is frequently employed to denote a cunning stratagem—a deceptive ploy designed to outwit an adversary or overcome an obstacle. It appears in narratives ranging from traditional folk lore, where a character contrives an ingenious escape ([1]), to epic poems in which a deception becomes the fulcrum of revenge ([2]). Authors also explore its use in military and political contexts, as seen in discussions of ruse de guerre that blur the lines between honor and trickery ([3], [4]). In more personal or social settings, ruse takes on the nuance of subtle manipulation, employed as a test of feelings or to avert unwelcome inquiries ([5]), demonstrating versatility in both dramatic and strategic roles. Even when the outcome is unexpectedly bittersweet, the ruse remains a device that captures the art of misleading with precision ([6], [7]).
- How it came about was thus: She knew that she was likely to be called at any moment, and so had planned a ruse by which to escape.
— from Korean folk tales : by Pang Im and Yuk Yi - (Revenge is sweet, I thought me of a ruse ;) I laid it at her rival’s feet,
— from Paradise Lost by John Milton - In effect, the action of the French ship amounted to using an infamous ruse de guerre ; but it would be unjust to say that this was intended.
— from The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 by A. T. Mahan - His having moved his troops there is only a ruse; he will probably pass round to the right of the Moskvá.
— from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy - For the first time, it struck her as a ruse, or that he said it so that she would not think of asking for things.
— from Sister Carrie: A Novel by Theodore Dreiser - This posing at the piano and over the album was only a little ruse adopted by way of precaution.
— from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - I was too wearied to run again, and too desperate to be taken, and therefore adopted a ruse that proved entirely successful.
— from Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
