Literary notes about wisp (AI summary)
The term “wisp” in literature conjures images of fleeting, delicate qualities and often carries a dual edge of physical slenderness and ethereal mystery. Authors use it to depict something insubstantial or transient—a slender trace or a ghostly light reminiscent of a will-o'-the-wisp, as when fate or desire seems just out of reach [1][2]. At the same time, it describes tangible, almost fragile elements such as a wisp of grass or a stray lock of hair, evoking a sense of delicate detail in characters or landscapes [3][4][5]. This versatile use enriches the narrative, blending the concrete with the ineffable and imbuing the text with a rich, transient aura that resonates across genres.
- It was, as Seth had prophesied, like seeking after a will-o'-the-wisp; yet surely she must be in the flesh somewhere.
— from When Wilderness Was KingA Tale of the Illinois Country by Randall Parrish - "The Will-o'-the-Wisp can assume all kinds of forms, and appear in every place.
— from Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen by H. C. Andersen - She began by taking a wisp of grass in the left hand and a flat splint in the other.
— from The Later Cave-Men by Katharine Elizabeth Dopp - His little bald head quivered, imparting a comical vibration to the wisp of white goatee.
— from The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale by Joseph Conrad - The hair was peculiar, plastered down in front in a long, curving wisp over his massive forehead.
— from The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle
