On the Shelf

March 26, 2024


Opening Lines Quiz #1: Answers

Last week I posed some (to me) great opening lines from books, and challenged you to name the book and author for each. Here are the answers. How did you do? How may have you read? (An asterisk {*} indicates that the book can be found in the Downieville Library.)

“We are at rest five miles behind the front. Yesterday we were relieved, and now our bellies are full of beef and haricot beans. We are satisfied and at peace.” Answer: All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque

“The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting. As the landscape changed from brown to green, the army awakened, and began to tremble with eagerness at the noise of rumors.” Answer: The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…” Answer: A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens*

“Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes. With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side, he lurched across the yard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery, and made his way up to bed, where Mrs. Jones was already snoring.” Answer: Animal Farm, by George Orwell

“To Mrs. Saville, England…St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17-…You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday, and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.” Answer: Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley*

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Answer: Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen*

“Call me Ishmael. Some years ago — never mind how long precisely — having little of no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.” Answer: Moby Dick, by Herman Melville

“Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns/driven time and again off course, once he had plundered/the hallowed heights of Troy.” Answer: The Odyssey, by Homer*

“Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner.” Answer: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens*

“Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. This story is about something that happened to them when they were sent away from London during the war because of the air-raids.” Answer: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis*

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Answer: Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy*

“If you want to find Cherry-Tree Lane all you have to do is ask the Police at the cross-roads. He will push his helmet slightly to one side, scratch his head thoughtfully, and then he will point his huge white-gloved finger and say: ‘First to your right, second to your left, sharp right again, and you’re there. Good morning.’” Answer: Mary Poppins, by P.L. Travers*


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