Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Bolanyo
Bolanyo

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Bolanyo
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE BLACK GIANT.
I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.
I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.
But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.
I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Bolanyo

Chapter III

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE BLACK GIANT.
Line 2
I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.
Line 3
I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.
Line 4
But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.
Line 5
I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.”

Current noun US /ˈcurrent/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.”

Length noun US /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading “I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.”

Remember verb US /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading “I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.”

Whistle noun US /ˈwhistle/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.”

All words in this reading · 81

Every word is available to listen to. 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 I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

agonies

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

all

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

array

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

bed

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

BLACK

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

From this reading THE BLACK GIANT.

boots

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

borne

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

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

cabin

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

came

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

caught

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

coon

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

cradle

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

currentnounUS /ˈcurrent/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

drowning

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

endured

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

engulfing

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

enough

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

faint

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

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

foolish

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

full

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

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

GIANT

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

From this reading THE BLACK GIANT.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

hearing

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

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

lengthnounUS /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

lights

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

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

made

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

many

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

negro's

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

out

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

pair

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

popular

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

recollection

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

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

red-top

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

review

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

river

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

scattered

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

seeing

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

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

sins

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

skin

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

straw

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

struggled

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

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

tacked

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

taken

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE BLACK GIANT.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

there

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

tumbled

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

From this reading I remember to have struggled, and to have been tumbled over and over by the current.

up

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

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

voices

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

From this reading I have a faint recollection of being borne along at full length, of seeing lights and of hearing voices.

wall

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

water

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading I might have caught at a straw, but no array of sins came up for review, though there were enough of them scattered between my cradle bed and the bed of this engulfing river.

whistlenounUS /ˈwhistle/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.

willow

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

From this reading But I thought of many a foolish thing, a pair of red-top boots, a whistle made of willow, a 'coon skin tacked against the wall of a negro's cabin; but I do not remember being taken out of the water, so I must have endured all the popular agonies of drowning.