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A Hero of Our Time
A Hero of Our Time

Chapter XXX · Chapter 30

Chapter 30 of A Hero of Our Time is here in full — 19 sentences across 4 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Hero of Our Time
Context Illustration Reading 1/3 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I SOMETIMES despise myself...
Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...
I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.
In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word marry has a kind of magical power.
However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!
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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 Hero of Our Time

Chapter XXX · Chapter 30

Chapter 30 of A Hero of Our Time is here in full — 19 sentences across 4 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/3 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I SOMETIMES despise myself...
/aɪ səmˈtaɪmz dɪˈspaɪz ˌmaɪˈself/
Line 2
Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...
Line 3
I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.
/aɪ hæv ɡroʊn ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl ʌv ˈnoʊbəl ˈɪmpəlsɪz aɪ æm əˈfreɪd ʌv əˈpɪrɪŋ rɪˈdɪkjələs tuː ˌmaɪˈself/
Line 4
In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the wordmarryhas a kind of magical power.
Line 5
However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

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.

appearing noun US /əˈpɪrɪŋ/

formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action

From this reading “I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.”

despise verb US /dɪˈspaɪz/

look down on with disdain

From this reading “I SOMETIMES despise myself...”

farewell noun US /ˌferˈwel/

an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting

From this reading “However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!”

impulses noun US /ˈɪmpəlsɪz/

plural of “impulse” — an instinctive motive

From this reading “I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.”

incapable adjective US /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/

(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability

From this reading “I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.”

magical adjective US /ˈmædʒɪkəl/

possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers

From this reading “In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.”

passionately adverb US /ˈpæʃənətli/

with passion

From this reading “However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!”

ridiculous adjective US /rɪˈdɪkjələs/

inspiring scornful pity

From this reading “I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

afraidadjectiveUS /əˈfreɪd/

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/

formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

coeur

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

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

despiseverbUS /dɪˈspaɪz/

look down on with disdain

From this reading I SOMETIMES despise myself...

et

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

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

farewellnounUS /ˌferˈwel/

an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

givesnounUS /ɡɪvz/

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I SOMETIMES despise myself...

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

impulsesnounUS /ˈɪmpəlsɪz/

plural of “impulse” — an instinctive motive

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/

(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

magicaladjectiveUS /ˈmædʒɪkəl/

possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

marryverbUS /ˈmeri/

take in marriage

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

MarynounUS /ˈmeri/

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I SOMETIMES despise myself...

nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/

impressive in appearance

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

offeredverbUS /ˈɔːfərd/

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

others

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

From this reading Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

passionatelyadverbUS /ˈpæʃənətli/

with passion

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

powernounUS /ˈpaʊər/

possession of controlling influence

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

PrincessnounUS /ˈprɪn.ses/

The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...

ridiculousadjectiveUS /rɪˈdɪkjələs/

inspiring scornful pity

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

sanounUS /sɑː/

Nazi militia created by Hitler in 1921 that helped him to power but was eclipsed by the SS after 1943

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

SOMETIMESadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading I SOMETIMES despise myself...

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I have grown incapable of noble impulses; I am afraid of appearing ridiculous to myself.

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Is not that the reason why I despise others also?...

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading However passionately I love a woman, if she only gives me to feel that I have to marry her--then farewell, love!

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading In my place, another would have offered Princess Mary son coeur et sa fortune; but over me the word “marry” has a kind of magical power.

Chapter 30 of A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Iurevich Lermontov holds 19 sentences, grouped into 4 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 30 of A Hero of Our Time contain?

Chapter 30 holds 19 sentences of A Hero of Our Time, unabridged, divided into 4 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 30 of A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Iurevich Lermontov exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 19 sentences, grouped into 4 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 30 of A Hero of Our Time?

Work through the 4 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 4 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 30 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 30 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 Hero of Our Time

Common questions about reading A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Iurevich Lermontov on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Hero of Our Time?

Yes. All 4100 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #913 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Hero of Our Time is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #913, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Hero of Our Time take to read?

About 341 minutes of reading across 820 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Hero of Our Time section by section

How to work through A Hero of Our Time section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 36 chapters of A Hero of Our Time 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 Hero of Our Time

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Hero of Our Time, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Travelling
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Hero of Our Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Tiflis
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Hero of Our Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Luggage
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Hero of Our Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Consisted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Hero of Our Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.