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A Boy's Will
A Boy's Will

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of A Boy's Will is here in full — 101 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Boy's Will
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.
Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.
My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.
Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.
A Late Walk He courts the autumnal mood.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Boy's Will

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of A Boy's Will is here in full — 101 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.
/pɑːrt aɪ ˈɪntuː maɪ oʊn ðə juːθ ɪz pərˈsweɪdɪd ðæt hiː wɪl biː ˈræðər mɔːr ðæn les hɪmˈself fɔːr ˈhævɪŋ ˌfɔːrˈswɔːrn ðə wɜːrld/
Line 2
Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.
/ɡoʊst haʊs hiː ɪz ˈhæpi ɪn səˈsaɪəti ʌv hɪz ˈtʃuːzɪŋ/
Line 3
My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.
/maɪ noʊˈvembər ɡest hiː ɪz ɪn lʌv wɪð ˈbiːɪŋ ˌmɪsəndərˈstʊd/
Line 4
Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.
/lʌv ənd ə ˈkwestʃən hiː ɪz ɪn daʊt ˈweðər tuː ədˈmɪt riːl ˈtrʌbəl tuː ə pleɪs bɪˈsaɪd ðə hɑːrθ wɪð lʌv/
Line 5
A Late Walk He courts the autumnal mood.
/ə leɪt wɔːk hiː kɔːrts ðə ɔːˈtʌmnəl muːd/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

autumnal adjective US /ɔːˈtʌmnəl/

of or characteristic of or occurring in autumn

From this reading “A Late Walk He courts the autumnal mood.”

choosing verb US /ˈtʃuːzɪŋ/

-ing form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading “Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.”

courts noun US /kɔːrts/

plural of “court” — an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading “A Late Walk He courts the autumnal mood.”

forsworn verb US /ˌfɔːrˈswɔːrn/

inflected form of “forswear” — formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure

From this reading “Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.”

hearth noun US /hɑːrθ/

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading “Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.”

misunderstood adjective US /ˌmɪsəndərˈstʊd/

wrongly understood

From this reading “My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.”

November noun US /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading “My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.”

persuaded verb US /pərˈsweɪdɪd/

past form of “persuade” — win approval or support for

From this reading “Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.”

All words in this reading · 53

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

admitverbUS /ədˈmɪt/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

autumnaladjectiveUS /ɔːˈtʌmnəl/

of or characteristic of or occurring in autumn

From this reading A Late Walk He courts the autumnal mood.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

choosingverbUS /ˈtʃuːzɪŋ/

-ing form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.

courtsnounUS /kɔːrts/

plural of “court” — an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading A Late Walk He courts the autumnal mood.

doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

forswornverbUS /ˌfɔːrˈswɔːrn/

inflected form of “forswear” — formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

GhostnounUS /ɡoʊst/

a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.

GuestnounUS /ɡest/

a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.

HousenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.

IntoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

LateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading A Late Walk He courts the autumnal mood.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.

misunderstoodadjectiveUS /ˌmɪsəndərˈstʊd/

wrongly understood

From this reading My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.

moodnounUS /muːd/

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading A Late Walk He courts the autumnal mood.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/

the month following October and preceding December

From this reading My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.

OwnverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

PartnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

persuadedverbUS /pərˈsweɪdɪd/

past form of “persuade” — win approval or support for

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

QuestionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

realadjectiveUS /riːl/

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading Ghost House He is happy in society of his choosing.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/

a source of difficulty

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

WalknounUS /wɔːk/

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading A Late Walk He courts the autumnal mood.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Love and a Question He is in doubt whether to admit real trouble to a place beside the hearth with love.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading My November Guest He is in love with being misunderstood.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

youthnounUS /juːθ/

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading Part I Into My Own The youth is persuaded that he will be rather more than less himself for having forsworn the world.

Chapter 1 of A Boy's Will by Robert Frost holds 101 sentences, grouped into 21 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of A Boy's Will contain?

Chapter 1 holds 101 sentences of A Boy's Will, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of A Boy's Will by Robert Frost exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 101 sentences, grouped into 21 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of A Boy's Will?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Boy's Will

Common questions about reading A Boy's Will by Robert Frost on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Boy's Will?

Yes. All 207 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3021 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Boy's Will is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3021, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Boy's Will take to read?

About 17 minutes of reading across 42 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Boy's Will section by section

How to work through A Boy's Will section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of A Boy's Will to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Boy's Will

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Boy's Will, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Youth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Boy's Will; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Persuaded
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Boy's Will; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rather
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Boy's Will; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Himself
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Boy's Will; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.