Literary notes about come (AI summary)
The word “come” operates in literature as a versatile signifier of movement, transition, and the arrival of both tangible and intangible change. It can denote the literal act of arriving, as when a character physically approaches or is summoned (“I have come for my courage” [1], “Come, son, away” [2]), or it may herald an impending state of affairs, imbuing the moment with a sense of destiny or transformation (“explanation… must come” [3], “the seasons come and go” [4]). It also functions to invite action or signal a call to duty, enhancing dialogue with immediacy and purpose (as in [5] and [6]). With its appearance in sacred texts and prophetic writings [7, 8, 9, 10], the word transcends ordinary usage to embody both physical presence and metaphysical significance, richly contributing to the narrative’s emotional and symbolic landscape.
- "I have come for my courage," announced the Lion, entering the room.
— from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum - Come, son, away; we may not linger thus.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - With every step of dawning intelligence, explanation—frank, free, guiding explanation—must come.
— from Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil by W. E. B. Du Bois - The seasons come and go in glad or saddening pageant, and with winged or leaden feet the years pass by before them.
— from Intentions by Oscar Wilde - But come thy ways, we'll go along together, And ere we have thy youthful wages spent We'll light upon some settled low content.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - What do you spy?—Come, give me an instrument.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not or an unlearned person, he is convinced of all: he is judged of all.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne? 23:4.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - And we know that the Son of God is come.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - But I am come to teach thee what things shall befall thy people in the latter days, for as yet the vision is for days.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete