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

Chapter III

Cover illustration for In the Wilderness
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!
I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.
But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.
There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.
I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.
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.

In the Wilderness

Chapter III

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!
Line 2
I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.
Line 3
But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.
Line 4
There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.
Line 5
I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.”

Insisted verb US /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading “There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

ability

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

actuality

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

brutality

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

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

companionship

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

dismal

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

dominate

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

enough

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

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

exposing

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

fact

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

fixed

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

forest

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

got

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

impassive

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

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

insistedverbUS /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/

demanded something firmly

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

keep

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

letter

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

man's

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

Nature

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

From this reading Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

newspapers

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

out

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

outwit

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

pathless

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

person

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

From this reading Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

pitiless

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

From this reading Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

pleasure

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

read

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

soothing

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

stolid

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

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

stumbled

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

superiority

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

There

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

From this reading There is an impassive, stolid brutality about the woods that has never been enough insisted on.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

tried

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

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

trouble

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

From this reading Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

unresponsive

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

From this reading Nature is so pitiless, so unresponsive, to a person in trouble!

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I tried to keep my mind fixed upon the fact of man's superiority to Nature; his ability to dominate and outwit her.

whole

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

woods

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

From this reading I had read of the soothing companionship of the forest, the pleasure of the pathless woods.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.

write

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

From this reading But I thought, as I stumbled along in the dismal actuality, that, if I ever got out of it, I would write a letter to the newspapers, exposing the whole thing.