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Barren Ground
Barren Ground

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Barren Ground is here in full — 402 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Barren Ground
Context Illustration Reading 1/80 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.
Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.
She must have found something else."
Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.
Love isn't everything."
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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.

Barren Ground

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Barren Ground is here in full — 402 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.
/ðer mʌst biː ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɪn laɪf bɪˈsaɪdz lʌv ʃiː θɔːt ɪn rɪˈvoʊlt frʌm ðə ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl ˈhɑːrpɪŋ əˈpɑːn ə ˈsɪŋɡəl strɪŋ/
Line 2
Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.
Line 3
She must have found something else."
Line 4
Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.
Line 5
Love isn't everything."

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.

exultantly adverb US /ɪɡˈzʌltəntli/

in an exultant manner

From this reading “Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.”

harping verb US /ˈhɑːrpɪŋ/

-ing form of “harp” — come back to

From this reading “"There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.”

reflect verb US /rɪˈflekt/

manifest or bring back

From this reading “Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.”

revolt noun US /rɪˈvoʊlt/

organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another

From this reading “"There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.”

string noun US /strɪŋ/

a lightweight cord

From this reading “"There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.”

unhappy adjective US /ənˈhæpi/

experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent

From this reading “Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.”

universal adjective US /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/

of worldwide scope or applicability

From this reading “"There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.”

vision noun US /ˈvɪʒən/

a vivid mental image

From this reading “Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

lived without verb + particle counted as “live without”

In this reading “Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.”

in the street preposition + article + noun counted as “in … street”

In this reading “Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.”

All words in this reading · 56

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 "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

doesn't

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

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

else

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

From this reading She must have found something else."

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Love isn't everything."

exultantlyadverbUS /ɪɡˈzʌltəntli/

in an exultant manner

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

FarmverbUS /fɑːrm/

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading She must have found something else."

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

harpingverbUS /ˈhɑːrpɪŋ/

-ing form of “harp” — come back to

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She must have found something else."

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

isn't

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

From this reading Love isn't everything."

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

livedverbUS /lɪvd/

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

looksnounUS /lʊks/

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

reflectverbUS /rɪˈflekt/

manifest or bring back

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

revoltnounUS /rɪˈvoʊlt/

organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

singleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəl/

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

stringnounUS /strɪŋ/

a lightweight cord

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

thinkingnounUS /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

unhappyadjectiveUS /ənˈhæpi/

experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

universaladjectiveUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəl/

of worldwide scope or applicability

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "There must be something in life besides love," she thought, in revolt from the universal harping upon a single string.

visionnounUS /ˈvɪʒən/

a vivid mental image

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

WatchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then, with the vision of Old Farm in her mind, she would reflect exultantly: "There is something else for me also.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Watching the people in the street, she would find herself thinking, "That woman looks as if she lived without love, but she doesn't look unhappy.

Chapter 12 of Barren Ground by Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow holds 402 sentences, grouped into 81 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 12 of Barren Ground contain?

Chapter 12 holds 402 sentences of Barren Ground, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Barren Ground by Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 402 sentences, grouped into 81 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 12 of Barren Ground?

Work through the 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 81 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Barren Ground

Common questions about reading Barren Ground by Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Barren Ground?

Yes. All 9424 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #66191 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Barren Ground is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #66191, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Barren Ground take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1885 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Barren Ground section by section

How to work through Barren Ground section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of Barren Ground 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 Barren Ground

Words and structures a reader meets early in Barren Ground, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Arrangement
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Barren Ground; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Doubleday
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Barren Ground; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Orange-colored
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Barren Ground; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shawl
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Barren Ground; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.