Black eyes Quote by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
““Its chief covering seemed to me to be composed of large wings folded over its breast and reaching to its knees; the rest of its attire was composed of an under tunic and leggings of some thin fibrous material. It wore on its head a kind of tiara that shone with jewels, and carried in its right hand a slender staff of bright metal like polished steel. But the face! it was that which inspired my awe and my terror. It was the face of man, but yet of a type of man distinct from our known extant races. The nearest approach to it in outline and expression is the face of the sculptured sphinx—so regular in its calm, intellectual, mysterious beauty. Its colour was peculiar, more like that of the red man than any other variety of our species, and yet different from it—a richer and a softer hue, with large black eyes, deep and brilliant, and brows arched as a semicircle. The face was beardless; but a nameless something in the aspect, tranquil though the expression, and beauteous though the features, roused that instinct of danger which the sight of a tiger or serpent arouses. I felt that this manlike image was endowed with forces inimical to man.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Coming Race by Edward Bulwer‑Lytton, 1871
A description of an alien, majestic being whose appearance blends human and mythic traits, evoking awe and fear.
In simple terms: An otherworldly figure that looks human but is terrifying.
Recognize that unfamiliar greatness can be both inspiring and threatening.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- first contact
- cultural encounter
- science fiction writing
- artistic inspiration
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the creature’s mixed humanity suggest about our own nature?
- How do we react to the unfamiliar when it resembles us?
The description may reflect Victorian anxieties about race and progress.