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An Outcast of the Islands
An Outcast of the Islands

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of An Outcast of the Islands is here in full — 1478 sentences across 296 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Joseph Conrad • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for An Outcast of the Islands
Context Illustration Reading 1/295 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
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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.

An Outcast of the Islands

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of An Outcast of the Islands is here in full — 1478 sentences across 296 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/295 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
Line 2
The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
Line 3
No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
Line 4
Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
Line 5
Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

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.

Mind noun US /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Serenity noun US /səˈren.ə.t̬i/

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.

From this reading “No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.”

Velmora curated lexicon

All words in this reading · 100

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.

affront

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
against

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
alike

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
all

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
an

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
angry

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
as

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
audaciously

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
avalanche

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
before

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
blossoms

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
body

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
breath

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
brilliant

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
buried

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
burning

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
butterflies

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
by

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
capricious

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
CHAPTER

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
children

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
choked

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
clearings

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
cloudless

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
cracked

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
cruel

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
dared

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
destroyed

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
down

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
drooping

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
dry

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
earth

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
every

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
fearless

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
fell

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
fire

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
flowers

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
flung

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
fluttered

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
frail

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
from

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
glided

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
glorious

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
grass

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
hand

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
heat

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
heaven

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
helpless

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
hide

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
hovered

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
if

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
land

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
lay

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
light

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
lightly

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
living

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Velmora curated lexicon
minute

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
motion

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
No

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
on

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
ONE

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
Only

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Velmora curated lexicon
oppression

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
or

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
over

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
ran

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
rays

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
resolution

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
revolt

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
river

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
rush

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Velmora curated lexicon
settlement

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
shadows

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
silent

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
sky

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
sound

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
still

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
Strength

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
sun

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
sunshine

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
swarms

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
The

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
their

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
thing

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
this

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.

Pending verification
tried

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
tyrants

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification
under

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

From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.

Pending verification
upon

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

From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.

Pending verification
were

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

From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.

Pending verification
withering

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

From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.

Pending verification

Chapter 2 of An Outcast of the Islands by Joseph Conrad holds 1478 sentences, grouped into 296 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 2 of An Outcast of the Islands contain?

Chapter 2 holds 1478 sentences of An Outcast of the Islands, unabridged, divided into 296 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of An Outcast of the Islands by Joseph Conrad exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 1478 sentences, grouped into 296 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 2 of An Outcast of the Islands?

Work through the 296 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 296 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 An Outcast of the Islands

Common questions about reading An Outcast of the Islands by Joseph Conrad on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of An Outcast of the Islands?

Yes. All 8405 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #638 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of An Outcast of the Islands is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #638, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does An Outcast of the Islands take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1681 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read An Outcast of the Islands section by section

How to work through An Outcast of the Islands section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of An Outcast of the Islands 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 An Outcast of the Islands

Words and structures a reader meets early in An Outcast of the Islands, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Stepped
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Outcast of the Islands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Straight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Outcast of the Islands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Narrow
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Outcast of the Islands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Peculiar
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Outcast of the Islands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.