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Literary notes about stare (AI summary)

Writers use the term "stare" to do far more than describe a physical act of looking; it becomes a window into a character’s inner life. Sometimes the unyielding, questioning, or even blank stare reveals a moment of introspection or secret turmoil, as when a character’s fixed, analytical gaze hints at their deep inner thoughts and unresolved conflicts [1, 2]. In other instances, a look turns into a charged moment of confrontation or vulnerability—a silent exchange that forebodes tension or fear, such as a suffering, terrified, or defiant stare that underscores the gravity of a situation [3, 4]. There are also instances where the gaze suggests bemusement or social awkwardness, inviting us to read subtle cues about shifting relationships and hidden emotions [5, 6]. By lending a single word such as "stare" multiple layers of meaning, authors create a rich narrative texture that deepens our understanding of character and mood [7, 8].
  1. He drew up his chair very close to mine, and began to stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look.
    — from Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
  2. Arthur turned his eyes on Adam with a vague stare which gave way to a slightly startled motion as if from the shock of returning memory.
    — from Adam Bede by George Eliot
  3. Her face darkened, and a hard, angry stare fixed itself in her eyes.
    — from The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
  4. His chin was cocked upward and his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the ceiling.
    — from Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
  5. He fixed his eye on me longer than I cared to return the stare, for fear I might be tempted either to box his ears or render my hilarity audible.
    — from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
  6. This information seemed to have a mollifying effect, and the irate young man favored Martin with a measuring stare.
    — from Martin Eden by Jack London
  7. Colin slowly sat up and stared and stared—as he had stared when he first saw Mary; but this was a stare of wonder and delight.
    — from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
  8. From my narrowed windows I stare into the night that looms beneath the cloud-swept stars.
    — from Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil by W. E. B. Du Bois

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