(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish. Want to make your own list? Clicking the image will take you to this week’s post. Happy listing!)
Today’s list is supposed be about the “Aww” moments of literature: sweet moments, stolen kisses, heartwrenching professions of love. But I’m feeling snarky today, and not at all lovey-dovey, so I’ll be taking the list in a different direction:
My list today is about the “Aw, SNAP!” moments. Enjoy the witty lines, and maybe do a little sassy finger-snapping of your own.
Please note that this entry contains spoilers for Pride and Prejudice, Rebecca, and The Count of Monte Cristo. Proceed with caution.
1. Much Ado About Nothing – As with many other standards of literature, Shakespeare wrote the book (well, play) when it comes to verbal swordplay. And none of his—or anyone else’s—characters typify the “Aw, SNAP!” moment quite like Beatrice and Benedick. It’s like watching a cage match with words.
2. Pride and Prejudice – Possibly the best argument-ender ever: “I had not known you a month before I felt you were the last man in the world whom I could ever marry!”
3. The Grand Sophy – This entire book is an “Aw, SNAP!” moment. Sophy exchanges witty barbs with everyone, from her cousin Charles to her father and friends — even the criminal she confronts isn’t spared her wit.
4. Rebecca – In one of those chilling moments that made me gasp out loud (in English class, no less): “You thought I loved Rebecca? You thought that? I hated her!”
5. Steel Magnolias – Much like The Grand Sophy, the “Aw, SNAP!” moments in this play (and in the 1989 film adaptation) are almost uncountable. My personal favorite is Miss Ouiser.
6. Count of Monte Cristo – “I am Edmund Dantes!” Rarely has one moment in literature stood out so clearly to me. A fantastic book with many twists — and the movie has even more “Aw, SNAP!” moments.
7. Jane Eyre – In one of my favorite moments of the book, when Jane schools Rochester good and proper: “You think because I am poor, plain, obscure and little, that I have no heart?”
8. Dorothy Parker – Not a work of literature, but definitely a piece of work. Check out some Dorothy Parker quotes sometime. My favorite? “Ducking for apples — change one letter and it’s the story of my life.”
What are some of your favorite gasp-worthy “Aw, SNAP!” moments in literature? Let me know in the comments!
I, too, was feeling snarky today. Love the “Aw, SNAP!”
Here’s my Top Ten “Awww” Moments. I hope you’ll stop by and see what you think.
Isn’t snark wonderful? Sometimes it’s the only thing that gets me through the day.
I went for more sentimental moments on my list but I like your “aw SNAP ideas, too. So my Pride and Prejudice moments would be when Mr. Darcy confesses he is still in love with Lizzie and she admits that her opinion has changed.
The actual point of this week’s list was indeed to list sentimental moments — but like I said, I’m feeling not at all sentimental. I’ve seen people twist the list before, so I figured I’d give it a shot and see how it went.
I love Pride and Prejudice. I read it multiple times per year. Which reminds me, I haven’t read it in 2011 yet…
It’s awesome how you made this into ‘Aw, snap!’ instead of ‘Aww’ … haha, love it!
Glad you liked it, Ashley. I normally eat the sentimental stuff up, but I was feeling obnoxious that day. 🙂
Nice take this week. I remember vividly those lines you highlighted in Rebecca, The Count, and Jane Eyre. Love a good “Aw SNAP” scene just as much as an “Awww” scene! Gone with the Wind also has a few good “Aw SNAP” scenes.
The twists in Rebecca definitely threw me for a loop. Hands down one of the best books I read in high school. I forgot about Gone with the Wind! Thank you for reminding me. Another great novel.
Yes, that scene from Rebecca! I think I gasped too.
I gasped multiple times while reading Rebecca. Every day when the class started, everyone would be buzzing about the previous night’s reading. Mrs. Danvers is, of course, the creepiest character ever.
I love Steel Magnolias. I’m hopefully going to see the play sometime next year.
I’ve never seen the play performed, but I read it several years ago. It’s a great play, but I grew up watching the movie, so I think I’ll always be partial to it.