Classic Novel Opening Lines

Q: Which novel opens with the line 'Call me Ishmael'?

Moby Dick. Herman Melville's 'Moby-Dick' (1851) opens with this iconic line spoken by the narrator, Ishmael.

Q: Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' famously opens with a statement about what?

A single man in want of a wife. The opening line is: 'It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.'

Q: F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' begins with advice from which character?

The narrator's father. The novel opens with Nick Carraway recalling advice his father gave him about life and human nature.

Q: J.D. Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye' opens with the narrator asking the reader to hear what?

His lousy childhood. The opening line is: 'If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like...'

Q: Charles Dickens's 'A Tale of Two Cities' opens with a comparison between which two eras or situations?

Best of times and worst of times. The famous opening line is: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,' referring to the French Revolution era.

Q: Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' opens with what poetic imagery about ships and men?

Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. The opening line is: 'Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board,' setting a lyrical, metaphorical tone.

Q: Leo Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina' opens with a famous statement about happy versus unhappy what?

Families. The opening line is: 'All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,' establishing the novel's themes.

Q: Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' opens with which character's troubled state of mind?

Raskolnikov. The novel opens by establishing Raskolnikov's mental and physical illness, setting up the psychological tension.

Q: Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind' opens with Scarlett O'Hara bored at a social event in which location?

Twelve Oaks. The novel opens at the Twelve Oaks plantation party where Scarlett's disdain for polite society is immediately apparent.

Question 1

Which novel opens with the line 'Call me Ishmael'?

Accepted Answer

Moby Dick

Answer

Robinson Crusoe

Answer

The Old Man and the Sea

Answer

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Question 2

Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' famously opens with a statement about what?

Accepted Answer

A single man in want of a wife

Answer

A woman in want of justice

Answer

A family in want of fortune

Answer

A woman in want of adventure

Question 3

F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' begins with advice from which character?

Accepted Answer

The narrator's father

Answer

Daisy Buchanan

Answer

Jordan Baker

Answer

Tom Buchanan

Question 4

J.D. Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye' opens with the narrator asking the reader to hear what?

Accepted Answer

His lousy childhood

Answer

His life story

Answer

His deepest secrets

Answer

His confession

Question 5

Charles Dickens's 'A Tale of Two Cities' opens with a comparison between which two eras or situations?

Accepted Answer

Best of times and worst of times

Answer

Rich and poor

Answer

Hope and despair

Answer

Love and hate

Question 6

Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' opens with what poetic imagery about ships and men?

Accepted Answer

Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board

Answer

Ships sail toward distant shores

Answer

Ships bring men to destiny

Answer

Ships carry every man's dream

Question 7

Leo Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina' opens with a famous statement about happy versus unhappy what?

Accepted Answer

Families

Answer

Marriages

Answer

Lives

Answer

Hearts

Question 8

Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' opens with which character's troubled state of mind?

Accepted Answer

Raskolnikov

Answer

Sonya

Answer

Porfiry

Answer

Luzhin

Question 9

Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind' opens with Scarlett O'Hara bored at a social event in which location?

Accepted Answer

Twelve Oaks

Answer

Tara

Answer

Atlanta

Answer

Charleston

Quiz Author

Classic Novel Opening Lines