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Blake's Burden
Blake's Burden

Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

Chapter 22 of Blake's Burden is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Blake's Burden
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.
He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.
It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.
There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.
He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.
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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.

Blake's Burden

Chapter XXII · Chapter 22

Chapter 22 of Blake's Burden is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.
Line 2
He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.
/hiː hæd ɡɔːn ðer fɔːr hɪz meɪl wɪtʃ ˌɪnˈkluːdəd æn ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ ˈnuːzpeɪpər ənd hæd ˈteɪkən ˈsʌpər æt ðə hoʊˈtel/
Line 3
It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.
/ɪt wɑːz naʊ əˈbaʊt tuː ˈaʊərz ˈæftər dɑːrk bʌt ə fʊl muːn hʌŋ ɪn ðə ˈwestərn skaɪ ənd ðə ˈklʌstər ʌv ˈwʊdən ˈbɪldɪŋz fɔːrmd ə ˈʃædoʊi blɜːr ɑːn ðə ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ pleɪn/
Line 4
There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.
Line 5
He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.
/hiː wɔːkt ɑːn wɪð ðə faɪn draɪ snoʊ ðə waɪnd wɪpt ʌp ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ ɑːn hɪz fɜːrz ənd ɑːn ˈriːtʃɪŋ ðə ˈhoʊmsted went fɜːrst tuː ðə ˈsteɪbəl/

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.

Arctic noun US /ˈɑːrktɪk/

the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole

From this reading “CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.”

blur verb US /blɜːr/

become glassy; lose clear vision

From this reading “It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.”

cluster verb US /ˈklʌstər/

come together as in a cluster or flock

From this reading “It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.”

expanse noun US /ɪkˈspæns/

a wide scope

From this reading “There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.”

furs noun US /fɜːrz/

plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading “CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.”

homestead noun US /ˈhoʊmsted/

the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family

From this reading “CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.”

modifies verb US /ˈmɑːdəfaɪz/

third-person singular of “modify” — make less severe or harsh or extreme

From this reading “CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.”

skyline noun US /ˈskaɪlaɪn/

the outline of objects seen against the sky

From this reading “There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.”

All words in this reading · 97

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 CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

ArcticnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/

the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

bitteradjectiveUS /ˈbɪtər/

marked by strong resentment or cynicism

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

blurverbUS /blɜːr/

become glassy; lose clear vision

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

breakverbUS /breɪk/

terminate

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/

plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

CLARKE

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

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

clusterverbUS /ˈklʌstər/

come together as in a cluster or flock

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/

lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/

a wide scope

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

fenceverbUS /fens/

enclose with a fence

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

formedadjectiveUS /fɔːrmd/

having or given a form or shape

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

fursnounUS /fɜːrz/

plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

glisteningadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ/

reflecting light

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/

having brief brilliant points or flashes of light

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

homesteadnounUS /ˈhoʊmsted/

the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

hotelnounUS /hoʊˈtel/

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

hungverbUS /hʌŋ/

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

includedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkluːdəd/

enclosed in the same envelope or package

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

latelyadverbUS /ˈleɪtli/

in the recent past

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

mailnounUS /meɪl/

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

MODIFIESverbUS /ˈmɑːdəfaɪz/

third-person singular of “modify” — make less severe or harsh or extreme

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

moonnounUS /muːn/

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

newspapernounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpər/

a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

PLANSnounUS /plænz/

plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

prairienounUS /ˈpreri/

a treeless grassy plain

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

reachingnounUS /ˈriːtʃɪŋ/

the act of physically reaching or thrusting out

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/

filled with shade

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/

a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

skylinenounUS /ˈskaɪlaɪn/

the outline of objects seen against the sky

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

snownounUS /snoʊ/

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

snowyadjectiveUS /ˈsnoʊi/

marked by the presence of snow

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/

resistant to change of position or condition

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

struckadjectiveUS /strʌk/

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

suppernounUS /ˈsʌpər/

a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

Sweetwater

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

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

sweptadjectiveUS /swept/

possessing sweep

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

treenounUS /triː/

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

westernadjectiveUS /ˈwestərn/

relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He had gone there for his mail, which included an English newspaper, and had taken supper at the hotel.

whippedverbUS /wɪpt/

inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading There was no fence, not a tree to break the white expanse that ran back to the skyline, and it struck Clarke, who had lately returned from England, that the place looked very dreary.

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading CLARKE MODIFIES HIS PLANS A bitter wind swept the snowy prairie and the cold was Arctic when Clarke, shivering in his furs, came into sight of his homestead as he walked back from Sweetwater.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He walked on with the fine, dry snow the wind whipped up glistening on his furs, and on reaching the homestead went first to the stable.

woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading It was now about two hours after dark, but a full moon hung in the western sky and the cluster of wooden buildings formed a shadowy blur on the glittering plain.

Chapter 22 of Blake's Burden by Harold Bindloss holds 155 sentences, grouped into 31 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 22 of Blake's Burden contain?

Chapter 22 holds 155 sentences of Blake's Burden, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 22 of Blake's Burden by Harold Bindloss exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 155 sentences, grouped into 31 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 22 of Blake's Burden?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 22 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 22 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 Blake's Burden

Common questions about reading Blake's Burden by Harold Bindloss on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Blake's Burden?

Yes. All 5536 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #29155 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Blake's Burden is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #29155, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Blake's Burden take to read?

About 461 minutes of reading across 1108 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Blake's Burden section by section

How to work through Blake's Burden section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 31 chapters of Blake's Burden 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 Blake's Burden

Words and structures a reader meets early in Blake's Burden, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Blake's Burden; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Impostor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Blake's Burden; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hawtrey's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Blake's Burden; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Deputy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Blake's Burden; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.