Literary notes about somber (AI summary)
In literature, "somber" is used to evoke an atmosphere of reflective melancholy and quiet gravitas, often deepening the emotional or visual impact of a scene. It can color entire landscapes with a muted, introspective glow—as when a steady luminosity unexpectedly lights up a dark night [1] or when drooping hemlocks create a cool, oppressive gloom [2]—while also lending characters a pensive or grave demeanor, exemplified by a scornful smile indicating hidden sorrow [3] or a face etched with quiet pain [4]. In this way, "somber" not only describes the physical hues of a setting but also mirrors the inner emotional world of its subjects, adding layers of complexity and evoking mood across a wide spectrum of narrative contexts [5].
- The somber night was suddenly lit by a steady luminosity in the distance.
— from Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda - Drooping hemlocks, festooned with goatsbeard lichen, keep the spot in cool, somber gloom even on the hottest midday.
— from Glacier National Park [Montana] by United States. Department of the Interior - Thou dreamest that thou art wise because thou couldst utter those blasphemous words,” he went on, with a somber and scornful smile.
— from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy - I wanted to take him in my arms and kiss him, but I did not dare—his face was contorted and somber.
— from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - I found no life stirring in the somber streets.
— from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
