Literary notes about tousled (AI summary)
The term "tousled" is frequently employed to create a vivid impression of a character’s disheveled, yet endearing appearance, evoking both physical and emotional states. Authors often use it to paint a picture of hair in a state of artful disarray—whether it is the result of youthful abandon, the rigors of battle, or a carefree morning—as in descriptions of a "tousled head" that suggests a blend of vulnerability and resilience [1, 2]. In some contexts, this adjective extends beyond mere physical untidiness, hinting at an inner life marked by spontaneity or reflective distraction, similar to the evocative scene where moonlight falls on a "tousled head" [3]. Thus, "tousled" becomes a succinct yet rich descriptor that bridges character aesthetics with deeper narrative moods.
- Here and there went his hands, caressing the shoulders of the boys, playing about the tousled heads.
— from Winesburg, Ohio: A Group of Tales of Ohio Small Town Life by Sherwood Anderson - His hair was wondrously tousled, and some straggling, moving locks hung over the cloth of the bandage down toward his forehead.
— from The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War by Stephen Crane - Entering the bedroom he halfclosed his eyes and walked through warm yellow twilight towards her tousled head.
— from Ulysses by James Joyce
