Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Day with William Shakespeare
A Day with William Shakespeare

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of A Day with William Shakespeare is here in full — 270 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By May Byron • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for A Day with William Shakespeare
Context Illustration Reading 1/54 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."
_Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
(_Romeo and Juliet_).
_In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Day with William Shakespeare

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of A Day with William Shakespeare is here in full — 270 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/54 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."
Line 2
_Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Line 3
(_Romeo and Juliet_).
Line 4
_In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
Line 5
It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

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.

Longfellow noun US /ˈlɔːŋfeloʊ/

United States poet remembered for his long narrative poems (1807-1882)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ripening noun US /ˈraɪpənɪŋ/

coming to full development; becoming mature

From this reading “_Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Romeo noun US /ˈroʊmioʊ/

an ardent male lover

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Rossetti noun US /roʊˈseti/

English poet and painter who was a leader of the Pre-Raphaelites (1828-1882)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
summer's noun US /ˈsʌmərz/

possessive form of “summer” — the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading “_Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Verona noun US /vərˈoʊnə/

a city in Veneto on the River Adige

From this reading “"Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Whitman noun US /ˈwɪtmən/

United States poet who celebrated the greatness of America (1819-1892)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Whittier noun US /ˈwɪtiər/

United States poet best known for his nostalgic poems about New England (1807-1892)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 61

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.

1599

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading (_Romeo and Juliet_).

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ardentadjectiveUS /ˈɑːrdənt/

characterized by intense emotion

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BnounUS /biː/

aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beauteousadjective

(poetic) beautiful, especially to the sight

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BrowningnounUS /ˈbraʊnɪŋ/

United States inventor of firearms (especially automatic pistols and repeating rifles and a machine gun called the Peacemaker) (1855-1926)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
budnounUS /bʌd/

a partially opened flower

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BurnsnounUS /bɜːrnz/

United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ByronnounUS /ˈbaɪrən/

English romantic poet notorious for his rebellious and unconventional lifestyle (1788-1824)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ColeridgenounUS /ˈkoʊlrɪdʒ/

English romantic poet (1772-1834)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DAYnounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EnounUS /iː/

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flowernounUS /ˈflaʊər/

a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gardensnounUS /ˈɡɑːrdənz/

plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
heatnounUS /hiːt/

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Juliet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

Pending verification
JunenounUS /dʒuːn/

the month following May and preceding July

From this reading It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
KeatsnounUS /kiːts/

Englishman and romantic poet (1795-1821)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LongfellownounUS /ˈlɔːŋfeloʊ/

United States poet remembered for his long narrative poems (1807-1882)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
love-scene

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

Pending verification
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MiltonnounUS /ˈmɪltən/

English poet; remembered primarily as the author of an epic poem describing humanity's fall from grace (1608-1674)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MorrisnounUS /ˈmɔːrəs/

United States suffragist in Wyoming (1814-1902)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
proveverbUS /pruːv/

be shown or be found to be

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
richadjectiveUS /rɪtʃ/

possessing material wealth

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ripeningnounUS /ˈraɪpənɪŋ/

coming to full development; becoming mature

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RomeonounUS /ˈroʊmioʊ/

an ardent male lover

From this reading (_Romeo and Juliet_).

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RossettinounUS /roʊˈseti/

English poet and painter who was a leader of the Pre-Raphaelites (1828-1882)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

Velmora curated lexicon
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/

award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SeriesnounUS /ˈsɪriz/

similar things placed in order or happening one after another

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SHAKESPEAREnounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːr/

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShelleynounUS /ˈʃeli/

English writer who created Frankenstein's monster and married Percy Bysshe Shelley (1797-1851)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
summer'snounUS /ˈsʌmərz/

possessive form of “summer” — the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TennysonnounUS /ˈtenɪsən/

Englishman and Victorian poet (1809-1892)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
VeronanounUS /vərˈoʊnə/

a city in Veneto on the River Adige

From this reading "Some ardent love-scene in the rich dim gardens of Verona."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading _Juliet._ This bud of love, by summer's ripening heat, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WhitmannounUS /ˈwɪtmən/

United States poet who celebrated the greatness of America (1819-1892)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WhittiernounUS /ˈwɪtiər/

United States poet best known for his nostalgic poems about New England (1807-1892)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WILLIAM

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

Pending verification
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WordsworthnounUS /ˈwɜːrdzwərθ/

a romantic English poet whose work was inspired by the Lake District where he spent most of his life (1770-1850)

From this reading _In the same Series._ _Tennyson._ _Browning._ _E. B. Browning._ _Burns._ _Byron._ _Longfellow._ _Whittier._ _Rossetti._ _Shelley._ _Scott._ _Coleridge._ _Morris._ _Wordsworth._ _Whitman._ _Keats._ _Milton._ A DAY WITH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading It was early on a bright June morning of the year 1599.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 1 of A Day with William Shakespeare by May Byron holds 270 sentences, grouped into 54 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, 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 Day with William Shakespeare contain?

Chapter 1 holds 270 sentences of A Day with William Shakespeare, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of A Day with William Shakespeare by May Byron exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 270 sentences, grouped into 54 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 Day with William Shakespeare?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 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 Day with William Shakespeare

Common questions about reading A Day with William Shakespeare by May Byron on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Day with William Shakespeare?

Yes. All 270 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40441 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Day with William Shakespeare is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #40441, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Day with William Shakespeare take to read?

About 22 minutes of reading across 54 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Day with William Shakespeare section by section

How to work through A Day with William Shakespeare section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of A Day with William Shakespeare 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 Day with William Shakespeare

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Day with William Shakespeare, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Ardent
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Day with William Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Love-scene
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Day with William Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gardens
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Day with William Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Verona
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Day with William Shakespeare; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.