Literary notes about fluttering (AI summary)
The word "fluttering" is deployed to animate both the physical world and the inner emotional landscapes of characters. It conveys the gentle, ephemeral movement of objects—be it the rags and ribbons dancing in the wind [1], a woodbine leaf softly brushing a character's head [2], or delicate pennants billowing over a scene [3, 4]—thereby imbuing the environment with a transient, almost magical quality. At the same time, fluttering becomes a metaphor for the stirring of internal states, evoking images of quickened hearts or restless thoughts, as when a character’s heart is described as fluttering in expectation or trepidation [5, 6, 7]. Thus, the term bridges the tangible and intangible, enhancing both the sensory descriptions and psychological nuances in literature.
- He strode off towards the distant trees with a new energy, his rags and ribbons fluttering in the wind.
— from The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G. K. Chesterton - A broad woodbine leaf had been fluttering against David's head, as he leaned on the slender pillar of the porch where it grew.
— from Work: A Story of Experience by Louisa May Alcott - Soon we could see the innumerable banners fluttering, and then the sun struck the sea of armor and set it all aflash.
— from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain - On a long curved spit between the rivers, towns of tents were visible, with a multitude of fluttering pennons, and a mighty swarm of pilgrims.
— from Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World by Mark Twain - Therefore, they repaired, with fluttering hearts, to the well-remembered booth.
— from Hard Times by Charles Dickens - Fluttering hopes and doubts—hopes, of a love as yet unknown to her: doubts, of her remaining upon earth, to enjoy that new delight—divided her breast.
— from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - His thoughts were like a loose thread fluttering to and fro in the wind.
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. Andersen
