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Charles Dickens: A critical study
Charles Dickens: A critical study

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Charles Dickens: A critical study
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.
We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
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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.

Charles Dickens: A critical study

Chapter X

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
Line 2
It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.
Line 3
We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
Line 4
We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
Line 5
They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.”

GREAT noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

All

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

also

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

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

always

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

any

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

From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

artistic

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

From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

attack

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

become

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

better

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

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

C

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

capital

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

CHARACTERS

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

consciousness

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

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

creation

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

From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.

criticism

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

criticizing

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

From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.

depressing

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

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

DICKENS

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

difficulty

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

From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.

disadvantage

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

evident

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

exhilarating

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

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

GREATnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

moon

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

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

much

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

pessimists

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

reason

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

see

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

From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.

spelt

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

staggering

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

From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.

sun

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

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

tends

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

too

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

Universe

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

very

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

From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.