Literary notes about Startled (AI summary)
The word "startled" is used to evoke a sudden, vivid jolt in a scene, capturing both the physical and emotional impact of an unexpected event. It often signals a break in normality—a disruption that can range from a minor, momentary surprise to a dramatic turning point in a character's journey, as when a quiet moment is shattered by an unforeseen commotion [1][2]. Its usage varies from describing a character’s startled retreat or hesitant reaction in tense situations [3][4] to highlighting the natural world’s sudden response to change, suggesting an almost universal sensitivity to the unexpected [5][6]. Authors employ the term to convey not just shock but also to underline deeper shifts in mood or relationships, as subtle surprises ripple through interactions and perceptions [7][8].
- We were suddenly startled from our repast by a noise like loud thunder, crash following crash, and echoing through the valley.
— from Paradise Lost by John Milton - I was startled, and going to speak: but he stamped with his foot, and said, Begone!
— from Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson - “In course He did,” said her companion, rather startled by this unexpected question.
— from A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle - They were startled by hearing Mrs. Hale inquiring for her daughter.
— from North and South by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell - Startled beasts indicate that a sudden attack is coming.
— from The Art of War by active 6th century B.C. Sunzi - [Pg 245] Had an apparition arisen from the earth, I could not have been more startled.
— from Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup - There was something of the fawn in her shy grace and startled eyes.
— from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - He has startled and distressed me shockingly!
— from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
