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The first few paragraphs of a novel, or any other masterpiece, form one of the key elements of the text: the decisive threshold by which the reader enters the imaginary world and the author passes between silence and discourse. French critics use the term “incipit” to refer to this part and study it from different points of view. After briefly looking at the evolution of this term and putting forward a relevant Persian equivalent, this paper insists on the particular importance of “the First Part of a Text”. The paper then recalls its particular roles and how to determine its limits, as well as analyzing concepts such as “Essential Principles of Imaginary World”, “Para- Textual Elements” and “Reading Contracts”. It should be noted that some examples
of Persian novels and short stories will be cited while explaining the above topics and analyzing the said concepts in order to facilitate understanding and grasp of the subject matter.