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Before Adam
Before Adam

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Before Adam is here in full — 95 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 2 of Before Adam by Jack London holds 95 sentences, grouped into 19 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 Before Adam contain?

Chapter 2 holds 95 sentences of Before Adam, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Before Adam by Jack London exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 95 sentences, grouped into 19 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 Before Adam?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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 Before Adam

Common questions about reading Before Adam by Jack London on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Before Adam?

Yes. All 2495 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #310 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Before Adam is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #310, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Before Adam take to read?

About 207 minutes of reading across 499 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Before Adam section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 18 chapters of Before Adam 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 Before Adam

Words and structures a reader meets early in Before Adam, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Pictures
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Before Adam; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Often
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Before Adam; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Learned
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Before Adam; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wonder
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Before Adam; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for Before Adam
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.
Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.
As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.
This thought obsessed me every night of my life for yearsif only I could find that one human and be saved!
I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.
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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.

Before Adam

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Before Adam is here in full — 95 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.
Line 2
Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.
Line 3
As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.
Line 4
This thought obsessed me every night of my life for yearsif only I could find that one human and be saved!
Line 5
I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.
All words in this reading · 74

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

a

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

an

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

and

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

As

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

aware

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

be

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

became

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

being

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

between

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

but

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

by

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

child

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

contact

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

could

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

disassociated

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

dreaming

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

dreams

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

early

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

even

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

every

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

From this reading This thought obsessed me every night of my life for years—if only I could find that one human and be saved!

evidence

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

fact

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

feeling

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

felt

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

find

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

for

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

From this reading This thought obsessed me every night of my life for years—if only I could find that one human and be saved!

from

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

had

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

haunting

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

have

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

horror

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

human

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

I

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

if

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

in

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

it

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

iterate

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

kind

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

lack

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

life

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

From this reading This thought obsessed me every night of my life for years—if only I could find that one human and be saved!

little

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

man

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

me

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

From this reading This thought obsessed me every night of my life for years—if only I could find that one human and be saved!

merging

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

midst

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

more

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

must

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

my

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

never

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

night

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

From this reading This thought obsessed me every night of my life for years—if only I could find that one human and be saved!

no

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

obsessed

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

From this reading This thought obsessed me every night of my life for years—if only I could find that one human and be saved!

Of

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

one

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

only

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

own

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

parts

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

personalities

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

poignantly

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

point

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

said

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

saved

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

saw

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

should

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

surrounded

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

take

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

terrors

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

From this reading As a very little child, even, I had a feeling, in the midst of the horror of my dreaming, that if I could find but one man, only one human, I should be saved from my dreaming, that I should be surrounded no more by haunting terrors.

that

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

From this reading I have said that in my dreams I never saw a human being.

the

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

this

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

thought

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

From this reading This thought obsessed me every night of my life for years—if only I could find that one human and be saved!

two

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

From this reading I must iterate that I had this thought in the midst of my dreaming, and I take it as an evidence of the merging of my two personalities, as evidence of a point of contact between the two disassociated parts of me.

very

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

From this reading Of this fact I became aware very early, and felt poignantly the lack of my own kind.

years

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

From this reading This thought obsessed me every night of my life for years—if only I could find that one human and be saved!