Literary notes about top (AI summary)
The word "top" appears with rich versatility in literature, often serving as a spatial marker for the highest point of an object or setting and sometimes as a metaphor for extremes or superior states. In some texts it denotes a literal physical position, such as the peak of an obelisk [1], the upper edge of a pipe [2], or the crest of a hill [3]. It also marks the highest part of a person or thing, as seen when describing the crown of a head [4] or items positioned on a wardrobe [5]. In other instances "top" intensifies the action, like when a character shouts at the top of his voice [6, 7] or refers to someone as the leader among peers [8]. This multiplicity of usage underlines the word's capacity to evoke both concrete spatial arrangements and abstract notions of eminence within literary works.
- This obelisk is a solid piece of red granite, without hieroglyphics, and, with the pedestal and ornaments at the top, is 182 feet high.
— from The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Complete by Suetonius - The length of an open pipe is measured from the edge of the lip to the top of the pipe; of a stopped pipe, from the lip to the top and back again.
— from How it Works by Archibald Williams - When he got to the top of the hill, He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill, For joy that he was safe Thro' the town, oh!
— from The Nursery Rhymes of England - Man's physiology complete, from top to toe, I sing.
— from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman - She heard him open the top of the wardrobe and take out his hat.
— from Sister Carrie: A Novel by Theodore Dreiser - Dantès cried at the top of his voice to warn them of their danger, but they saw it themselves.
— from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - You can shout at the top of your voice, but I won’t give more, I won’t, whatever happens, I won’t, I won’t.”
— from The possessed : by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - In general, Pencroft, Herbert, and Neb walked first, preceded by Top, who poked his nose into every bush.
— from The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
