Literary notes about spell (AI summary)
In literature, “spell” wears many hats, seamlessly shifting between meanings that evoke magic, captivation, and time. It is often employed as a motif for supernatural incantations and curses that bind characters—whether it is the direct utterance of magic [1, 2, 3, 4] or the breaking of an enchantment that releases repressed memories or powers [5, 6]. At the same time, “spell” captures the sense of being under a temporary but irresistible influence, where a person might be “in its spell” or take a short period to pause before acting [7, 8, 9, 10]. Moreover, the word also plays on the literal act of spelling in a linguistic sense, as seen when its use highlights the art of forming words or the errors in doing so [11, 12, 13, 14]. This multifaceted usage enriches literary works by blending the mystical with the everyday, imbuing language with both enchantment and precision.
- V—The text of the Sulumwoya spell and its analysis.
— from Argonauts of the Western Pacific by Bronislaw Malinowski - There, vainly screened by charm and spell, The robber Rávan fought and fell.
— from The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Valmiki - The hell-dog in Faust’s room takes refuge from the spell of ‘Solomon’s Key’ behind the stone, and is there transformed to human shape.
— from Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway - Merlin said: “If any labor of mortal might break the spell that binds these waters, this which I have but just essayed had done it.
— from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain - Grimhild’s spell was broken and the past came back in a flood of bitter recollection.
— from Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas by H. A. Guerber - With a sudden determination to break the spell that was upon him, Will looked straight at Mr. Casaubon.
— from Middlemarch by George Eliot - Even when she was calm and sober she was in its spell.
— from The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence - After a long spell she seemed sinking off to sleep, but with an effort seemed to pull herself together and shook it off.
— from Dracula by Bram Stoker - She listened to it in a spell of amusement.
— from The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence - How much of it was owing to the spell of the perfect afternoon, the scent of the fading woods, the thought of the dulness she had fled from?
— from The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton - That I could spell the prayer I knew so perfect yesterday, — That scalding one, "Sabachthani," Recited fluent here.
— from Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete by Emily Dickinson - Of course the little ones cannot spell on their fingers; but I manage to read their lips.
— from The Story of My Life by Helen Keller - Here is a sample: 'How must you spell honey to make it catch lady-birds? Answer—money.'
— from Middlemarch by George Eliot - This afternoon little Jimmy Andrews was trying to spell ‘speckled’ and couldn’t manage it.
— from Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery
