Story Openings – Look at these examples. What makes them so good/effective?

Opening of text What is the setting/tone of the writing? What do we learn about any character(s) What problems are we introduced to? What genre or type of text
How do we know? here? Who is speaking? What’s the effect? Or, what problems do you thin might do you think this story is?
come later based on the opening line? Why?
'We slept in what had once been the This story is set in a We learn that there is more I think that, they are hiding I think that this story
gymnasium.  The floor was of
varnished wood, with stripes
gymnasium. The tone of this than 1 character. We also learn from someone, or trying to is a story which
writing is sad. that something has happened not be seen. starts badly, but then
Text 1

and circles painted on it, for the games

that were formerly played there. ‘ The word ‘formerly’ shows us to them, as they are sleeping in somebody helps
The Handmaid’s Tale,
that something has changed- a gymnasium. them, and it all
Margaret Atwood
for the worst comes together.
'The terror, which would not end for This story is set in a dirty We do not learn anything We are introduced to a I think that this story
another twenty-eight years – if it ever
did – began, so far as I know or can
place. about the characters-apart problem which is that they will be terror. This is
tell, with a boat made from a sheet of The tone of this writing is sad from the fact that they are in are in danger. because it sounds
Text 2

newspaper floating down a gutter and scary. danger. scary.

swollen with rain.‘
We know this because the
It, Stephen King
author says ‘terror’.
'It was a warm October evening in The setting of this story is in We learn that the narrator is We are not introduced to I think that this story
1978 with the distant skyscrapers
sparkling in the dusk as
1978. The tone of this writing speaking. We also learn that any problem- it seems like a will have a romance
Maxine glanced through the limousine is sad and calm. We know this Maxine is a very rich normal day. This suggests genre, as it seems so
window at the familiar New York when the author says ‘warm character, and that she is very that she will have problems peaceful.
skyline.‘
October evening…’ busy as she only glanced at the later on.
Text 3

Lace, Shirely Conran
window. The effect of a
narrator is that we can see both
parts of a story.

'On the morning after the night it
happened, Bruce Delamitri was sitting
in a police interview room.
“Name?” said the interrogating officer.
It wasn´t really a question. The officer
knew Bruce’s name, of course,
but there was a procedure and he was
Text 4
The setting of this story is in a
police interview room. The
tone of this story is mysterious.
This is because we don’t know
why Bruce knows the police
officer.
We learn that Bruce has done We are introduced to the The genre of this
something wrong. The narrator problem that Bruce is in jail. story is mysterious
is speaking. The effect of this Also, I think that he will go (mystery), as we do
is that we can see both sides of back to jail again in the not know everything.
the story- Bruce’s and the book.
police officer’s.

required to follow it. ‘

Popcorn, Ben Elton
Story Openings – Look at these examples. What makes them so good/effective?
'It was a bright cold day in April, and This story is set in the Victory We learn that Winston Smith We are introduced to the I think that this story
the clocks were striking thirteen. 
Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into
Mansions. The tone of the is not very rich, and does not problem that Winston is will have a romance
his breast in an effort to escape the writing is peaceful. This is have a home. In this story, the sneaking into somebody genre. This is
vile wind, slipped quickly through the shown with the description ‘… narrator is speaking. This is else’s home. I think that because, it is so calm
glass doors of Victory Mansions,
bright cold day in April…’ good as we will be able to see later on, the family will and beautiful, it
Text 5

although not quickly enough to

prevent a swirl of gritty dust from all of the characters thoughts. discover him, but then help seems perfect for
entering along with him.‘ him. that type of story.
1984, George Orwell