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Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Heart of Darkness is here in full — 184 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Heart of Darkness
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.
I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.
Well, I am not going to.
I began to feel slightly uneasy.
You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.
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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.

Heart of Darkness

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Heart of Darkness is here in full — 184 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.
Line 2
I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.
Line 3
Well, I am not going to.
Line 4
I began to feel slightly uneasy.
Line 5
You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

All words in this reading · 52

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.

about

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

again

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

am

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

From this reading Well, I am not going to.

amongst

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

and

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

any

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

atmosphere

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

began

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

From this reading “I began to feel slightly uneasy.

believe

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

ceremonies

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

compassionate

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

desolation

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

disclose

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

document

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

feel

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

From this reading “I began to feel slightly uneasy.

forty-five

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

found

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

full

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

going

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

From this reading Well, I am not going to.

I

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

In

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

know

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

made

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

me

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

myself

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

not

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

of

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

ominous

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

other

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

seconds

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

secretary

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

secrets

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

sign

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

slightly

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

From this reading “I began to feel slightly uneasy.

some

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

something

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

such

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

sympathy

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

the

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

there

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

things

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

to

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

trade

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

undertook

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

From this reading I believe I undertook amongst other things not to disclose any trade secrets.

uneasy

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

From this reading “I began to feel slightly uneasy.

used

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

waiting-room

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

was

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

Well

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

From this reading Well, I am not going to.

who

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

with

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

From this reading “In about forty-five seconds I found myself again in the waiting-room with the compassionate secretary, who, full of desolation and sympathy, made me sign some document.

You

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

From this reading You know I am not used to such ceremonies, and there was something ominous in the atmosphere.

Chapter 2 of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad holds 184 sentences, grouped into 37 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 2 of Heart of Darkness contain?

Chapter 2 holds 184 sentences of Heart of Darkness, unabridged, divided into 37 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 184 sentences, grouped into 37 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 2 of Heart of Darkness?

Work through the 37 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 37 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Heart of Darkness

Common questions about reading Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Heart of Darkness?

Yes. All 2390 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #219 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Heart of Darkness is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #219, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Heart of Darkness take to read?

About 199 minutes of reading across 478 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Heart of Darkness section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of Heart of Darkness 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 Heart of Darkness

Words and structures a reader meets early in Heart of Darkness, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Nellie
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Heart of Darkness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cruising
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Heart of Darkness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Swung
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Heart of Darkness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Anchor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Heart of Darkness; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.