Literary notes about frazzled (AI summary)
In literature, “frazzled” frequently conveys a sense of exhaustion—both mental and physical—while also evoking images of disarray or deterioration. Authors use it to portray characters whose nerves are taxed to the breaking point, as when a protagonist feels utterly “frazzled out” ([1]) or when a character’s “frazzled nerves jumped all together” in chaotic moments ([2]). The term is equally effective in describing worn or tattered objects, lending a tangible quality to the narrative; for instance, ledgers with “frazzled edges” ([3]) or a “frazzled-edged” bow tie ([4]) underline an erosion of order and vitality. Thus, “frazzled” serves as a dynamic descriptor that captures both the internal strain of individuals and the external signs of wear that pervade their surroundings.
- “I feel frazzled out; that’s what I mind.”
— from Success: A Novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams - “Did it seem to be on the ground, or in mid-air?” Colton's frazzled nerves jumped all together, and in different directions.
— from The Flying Death by Samuel Hopkins Adams - They will slap against the windows of offices where men in black suits shaped like pears rub their abdomens against frazzled edges of ledgers.
— from A Pushcart at the Curb by John Dos Passos - He wore a broad-brimmed black "derby-hat", a neatly pressed serge suit in two tones, a soiled white pleated shirt and a frazzled-edged black bow tie.
— from Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration
