Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Charlemont
Charlemont

Chapter XXXIV · Chapter 34

Chapter 34 of Charlemont is here in full — 172 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Charlemont
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE FATES FIND THE DAGGER AND THE BOWL.
For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.
Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.
Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.
Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.
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.

Charlemont

Chapter XXXIV · Chapter 34

Chapter 34 of Charlemont is here in full — 172 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE FATES FIND THE DAGGER AND THE BOWL.
/ðə feɪts faɪnd ðə ˈdæɡ.ər ənd ðə boʊl/
Line 2
For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.
/fɔːr ə lɔːŋ taɪm ʃiː leɪ wɪˈθaʊt ˈʃoʊɪŋ ˈeni saɪnz ʌv laɪf/
Line 3
Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.
/hɜːr ˈpæʃənz rɪˈbeld əˈɡenst ðə rɪˈstreɪnt wɪtʃ hɜːr maɪnd hæd ɪnˈdevərd tuː pʊt əˈpɑːn ðem/
Line 4
Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.
/ðer ˈkɑːnsəntreɪtɪd fɔːrs ˈbreɪkɪŋ ɔːl bɑːndz soʊ ˈsʌdənli wɑːz laɪk ðə tərˈɪfɪk ˈaʊtbɜːrst ʌv ðə ˈbɔɪlɪŋ ˈlɑːvə frʌm ðə ˈɡɔːrdʒəz ʌv ðə ˈfroʊzən ˈmaʊntən/
Line 5
Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.
/bɪˈliːvɪŋ hɜːr ded ðə ˈmʌðər rʌʃt ˈhedlɔːŋ ˈɪntuː ðə ˈhaɪweɪ ˈrendɪŋ ðə ˈvɪlədʒ wɪð hɜːr skriːmz/

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.

endeavored verb US /ɪnˈdevərd/

past form of “endeavor” — attempt by employing effort

From this reading “Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.”

fates noun US /feɪts/

plural of “fate” — an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading “THE FATES FIND THE DAGGER AND THE BOWL.”

gorges noun US /ˈɡɔːrdʒəz/

plural of “gorge” — a deep ravine (usually with a river running through it)

From this reading “Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.”

lava noun US /ˈlɑːvə/

rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from volcanos; lava is what magma is called when it reaches the surface

From this reading “Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.”

outburst noun US /ˈaʊtbɜːrst/

an unrestrained expression of emotion

From this reading “Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.”

rebelled verb US /rɪˈbeld/

inflected form of “rebel” — take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance

From this reading “Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.”

rending adjective US /ˈrendɪŋ/

resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped apart or lightning splitting a tree

From this reading “Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.”

screams noun US /skriːmz/

plural of “scream” — sharp piercing cry

From this reading “Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.”

All words in this reading · 60

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 For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE FATES FIND THE DAGGER AND THE BOWL.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

BelievingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/

the cognitive process that leads to convictions

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

boilingnounUS /ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/

the application of heat to change something from a liquid to a gas

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

bondsnounUS /bɑːndz/

plural of “bond” — an electrical force linking atoms

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

BOWLnounUS /boʊl/

a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids

From this reading THE FATES FIND THE DAGGER AND THE BOWL.

breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/

the act of breaking something

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

concentratedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪtɪd/

gathered together or made less diffuse

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

DAGGERnounUS /ˈdæɡ.ər/

A short knife with a pointed and edged blade, used as a stealth weapon.

From this reading THE FATES FIND THE DAGGER AND THE BOWL.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

endeavoredverbUS /ɪnˈdevərd/

past form of “endeavor” — attempt by employing effort

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

FATESnounUS /feɪts/

plural of “fate” — an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading THE FATES FIND THE DAGGER AND THE BOWL.

FINDverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading THE FATES FIND THE DAGGER AND THE BOWL.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

forcenounUS /fɔːrs/

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/

turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

gorgesnounUS /ˈɡɔːrdʒəz/

plural of “gorge” — a deep ravine (usually with a river running through it)

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

headlongadverbUS /ˈhedlɔːŋ/

with the head foremost

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

highwaynounUS /ˈhaɪweɪ/

a major road for any form of motor transport

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

lavanounUS /ˈlɑːvə/

rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from volcanos; lava is what magma is called when it reaches the surface

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

mountainnounUS /ˈmaʊntən/

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

outburstnounUS /ˈaʊtbɜːrst/

an unrestrained expression of emotion

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

passionsnounUS /ˈpæʃənz/

plural of “passion” — a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

rebelledverbUS /rɪˈbeld/

inflected form of “rebel” — take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

rendingadjectiveUS /ˈrendɪŋ/

resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped apart or lightning splitting a tree

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

restraintnounUS /rɪˈstreɪnt/

the act of controlling by restraining someone or something

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

rushedadjectiveUS /rʌʃt/

done under pressure

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

screamsnounUS /skriːmz/

plural of “scream” — sharp piercing cry

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

showingnounUS /ˈʃoʊɪŋ/

the display of a motion picture

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

signsnounUS /saɪnz/

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

terrificadjectiveUS /tərˈɪfɪk/

very great or intense

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE FATES FIND THE DAGGER AND THE BOWL.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Their concentrated force breaking all bonds, so suddenly, was like the terrific outburst of the boiling lava from the gorges of the frozen mountain.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Her passions rebelled against the restraint which her mind had endeavored to put upon them.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Believing her dead, the mother rushed headlong into the highway, rending the village with her screams.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading For a long time she lay without showing any signs of life.

Chapter 34 of Charlemont by William Gilmore Simms holds 172 sentences, grouped into 35 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 34 of Charlemont contain?

Chapter 34 holds 172 sentences of Charlemont, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 34 of Charlemont by William Gilmore Simms exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 172 sentences, grouped into 35 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 34 of Charlemont?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 34 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 34 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 Charlemont

Common questions about reading Charlemont by William Gilmore Simms on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Charlemont?

Yes. All 7184 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6012 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Charlemont is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6012, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Charlemont take to read?

About 598 minutes of reading across 1437 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Charlemont section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 38 chapters of Charlemont 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 Charlemont

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

Scene
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Charlemont; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stormy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Charlemont; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rugged
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Charlemont; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Winds
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Charlemont; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.