Literary notes about harsh (AI summary)
The term "harsh" serves as a versatile, evocative descriptor in literature, often used to convey severity and unyielding reality in both physical and emotional contexts. For instance, it characterizes a biting, dissonant quality in auditory imagery, as in passages where discordant sounds or abrasive voices unsettle the reader’s sense of harmony [1, 2]. At times, it evokes the stark, unforgiving nature of light or weather, setting a grim tone in scenes of desolation and reflection [3, 4]. In matters of human behavior and social commentary, "harsh" underscores the inflexibility of moral judgments and the brutality of governmental measures or personal interactions [5, 6, 7]. Even in depictions of character, whether through a cutting word or a severe look, "harsh" intensifies the emotional landscape, reinforcing themes of cruelty and resolve [8, 9]. This multifaceted usage enriches the texture of literary expression, inviting readers to confront the raw and unembellished truths underpinning the narratives.
- Then murther's out of tune, And sweet revenge grows harsh.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - It is the lark that sings so out of tune, Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - The cold, harsh fact can be believed but slowly.
— from The Heart-Cry of Jesus by Byron J. Rees - Anne looked across the still, white fields, cold and lifeless in the harsh light of that grim sunset, and sighed.
— from Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery - A conclusion so harsh and so absolute is not, however, warranted by our knowledge of human nature, of Constantine, or of Christianity.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon - Any of his friends, relations, or acquaintances who fell into their hands received very harsh treatment.
— from Plutarch's Lives, Volume 1 (of 4) by Plutarch - to be embittered, to grow angry, harsh, Col. 3.19.
— from A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament by William Greenfield - His voice, which before had been tender, almost womanly, became harsh and menacing.
— from A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne - " "Are you mad, old man?" demanded Sir Edmund Andros, in loud and harsh tones.
— from Twice-told tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne
