Literary notes about illuminated (AI summary)
The term "illuminated" in literature serves a dual purpose, functioning both as a descriptor for physical light and as a metaphor for enlightenment or emotional revelation. In some instances, it conveys the literal brightness of a scene—for example, a village bathed in joy [1] or a brilliantly lit hall that sets the festive tone of a gathering [2, 3]. In other passages, its usage transcends the physical, casting inner light upon characters’ souls and symbolizing transformative insight, as seen in moments of sudden revelation or ideological clarity [4, 5]. Additionally, the word creates atmospheric contrasts, highlighting the interplay between darkness and light to intensify dramatic tension and enrich thematic complexity [6, 7, 8].
- The illuminated village had seized hold of the tocsin, and, abolishing the lawful ringer, rang for joy.
— from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - This spacious hall, illuminated by a single lamp, was the old hall of the episcopal palace, and served as the large hall of the palace of justice.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - The scene is laid in one of the rooms of Andronov’s Restaurant [A brilliantly illuminated room.
— from Plays by Anton Chekhov, Second Series by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov - Next moment something appeared to burst open before him: a wonderful inner light illuminated his soul.
— from The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - D Visible objects are to be seen only when the sun shines upon them; truth is only known when illuminated by the idea of good.
— from The Republic of Plato by Plato - She wanted very much to be on the seething, partially illuminated shore, for within her was the void reality of dark space.
— from The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence - The whole chamber was bathed in that mist of places which are sparely illuminated, which adds to horror.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - The fire which illuminated her at that moment brought into relief all the angles of her bones, and rendered her thinness frightfully apparent.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
