Literary notes about begin (AI summary)
The word "begin" in literature is remarkably versatile, serving as a signal for the start of actions, events, and inner transformations. It is employed to spark dramatic upheaval, as when a great revolt is set in motion [1] or war is ignited [2]. Authors use it to mark the inception of journeys, both physical and emotional, such as launching into a new phase of life [3] or embarking on philosophical inquiry [4]. It can also denote the initiation of regulated discourse or creative endeavors, from laying down argumentative foundations [5] to outlining the structure of a narrative [6]. This range of usage highlights how "begin" is not merely a marker of time but a dynamic device that aligns the reader’s attention with the unfolding of significant change.
- she said; "we are about to begin our great Revolt against the men of Oz!
— from The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum - Go, now, and take your food that we may begin fighting.
— from The Iliad by Homer - But I—I have lost everything and cannot begin life anew.”
— from Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley - 31 From the moment when this thought begins to prevail all colours will change their hue and a new history will begin.
— from The Twilight of the Idols; or, How to Philosophize with the Hammer. The Antichrist by Nietzsche - As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence, end it in conformity with the beginning.
— from The Elements of Style by William Strunk - We always begin at the abstract end of things, and you can’t begin this story anywhere else.
— from The innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton
