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Literary notes about ask (AI summary)

The word "ask" functions as a versatile tool in literature, employed to convey everything from simple requests to profound inquiries that propel both dialogue and reflection. In some narratives, it serves as a polite suggestion or command—one character might, for instance, instruct another to obtain assistance or permission, as seen when a character is told to "ask her" to join him on a stroll [1] or to seek out someone’s expertise [2]. In other contexts, "ask" carries a weightier, almost poetic resonance, evoking rhetorical or solemn appeals, as in the archaic summons in "O thou that are like unto an immortal, ask thou a fresh boon!" [3] or when it frames a profound inquiry into one's own nature [4]. Even in moments of tension or reproach, the term punctuates dialogue, challenging behavior or expressing disillusionment [5]. Across these varied uses—from casual conversation to formal entreaties—the word enriches literary tone and character interaction, highlighting its enduring adaptability and expressive nuance.
  1. “I will ask her to come to the garden,” he thought; “we’ll walk about a little and I’ll speak.”
    — from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
  2. May I ask if it is in this house that your invalid friend Mr. Bunbury resides? Algernon.
    — from The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People by Oscar Wilde
  3. O thou that are like unto an immortal, ask thou a fresh boon!
    — from The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1
  4. Consult your own heart while I speak; that is all I ask.
    — from Emile by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
  5. I ask you, sir, how dare you do it?" "Stop, sir," says George, "don't say dare, sir.
    — from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

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