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Literary notes about glimpse (AI summary)

The term "glimpse" is frequently employed to convey a brief, transient look that holds deeper meaning beyond its momentary appearance. In many works, it encapsulates the idea of catching a fleeting view—whether of a beloved figure whose absence is deeply felt [1], a long-lost memory suddenly resurfacing [2], or a sign of possibility and hope amid struggle [3]. It can also hint at a more profound, almost ineffable quality that escapes complete understanding, as when a character perceives a faint echo of a storied past [4] or a hint of something transformative yet ephemeral [5]. Such usage invites readers to contemplate the layers of meaning hidden within a mere glimpse—a moment that, while brief, often resonates powerfully with the overarching narrative.
  1. "And this poor person came about the house three or four days, hoping to get a glimpse of you, miss—all she wanted, she said—but you were away.
    — from Bleak House by Charles Dickens
  2. But the princess had caught a glimpse of the man she had known and loved, and it was to him that she now spoke.
    — from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy
  3. It gives him a glimpse of his possibilities to keep him from losing heart, from quitting his upward life struggle.
    — from Pushing to the Front by Orison Swett Marden
  4. A flash of anger and disdain kindled in the eyes of the Unknown, and I had a glimpse of a terrible past in the life of this man.
    — from Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne
  5. Everything only a glimpse, the glimpse always unforeseen, and always forgotten.
    — from The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G. K. Chesterton

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