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Irish Fairy Tales
Irish Fairy Tales

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Irish Fairy Tales is here in full — 68 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Irish Fairy Tales
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with tune”] got his first training among women.
There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.
These were the women druids, Bovmall and Lia Luachra.
It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.
She could not keep him with her for dread of the clann-Morna.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Irish Fairy Tales

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of Irish Fairy Tales is here in full — 68 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme withtune”] got his first training among women.
Line 2
There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.
Line 3
These were the women druids, Bovmall and Lia Luachra.
Line 4
It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.
Line 5
She could not keep him with her for dread of the clann-Morna.

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.

dread noun US /dred/

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading “She could not keep him with her for dread of the clann-Morna.”

druids noun US /ˈdruːɪdz/

plural of “druid” — a pre-Christian priest among the Celts of ancient Gaul and Britain and Ireland

From this reading “These were the women druids, Bovmall and Lia Luachra.”

pretend verb US /priˈtend/

make believe with the intent to deceive

From this reading “There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.”

pronounce verb US /prəˈnaʊns/

speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way

From this reading “Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.”

rhyme noun US /raɪm/

correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)

From this reading “Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.”

teaches noun US /ˈtiːtʃəz/

plural of “teach” — an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of North America (died in 1718)

From this reading “There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.”

training noun US /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/

activity leading to skilled behavior

From this reading “Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.”

tune noun US /tuːn/

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

From this reading “Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

Bovmall

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

From this reading These were the women druids, Bovmall and Lia Luachra.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

clann-Morna

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

From this reading She could not keep him with her for dread of the clann-Morna.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

dreadnounUS /dred/

fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading She could not keep him with her for dread of the clann-Morna.

druidsnounUS /ˈdruːɪdz/

plural of “druid” — a pre-Christian priest among the Celts of ancient Gaul and Britain and Ireland

From this reading These were the women druids, Bovmall and Lia Luachra.

existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/

the state or fact of existing

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

Fewn

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

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

fightverbUS /faɪt/

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

fightingnounUS /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/

the act of fighting; any contest or struggle

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

Fionn

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

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She could not keep him with her for dread of the clann-Morna.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading She could not keep him with her for dread of the clann-Morna.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

Lia

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

From this reading These were the women druids, Bovmall and Lia Luachra.

Luachra

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

From this reading These were the women druids, Bovmall and Lia Luachra.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

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

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/

absolutely essential

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

others

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

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

pretendverbUS /priˈtend/

make believe with the intent to deceive

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

pronounceverbUS /prəˈnaʊns/

speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

pup's

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

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

rhymenounUS /raɪm/

correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

savageries

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

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

teachesnounUS /ˈtiːtʃəz/

plural of “teach” — an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of North America (died in 1718)

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These were the women druids, Bovmall and Lia Luachra.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

trainverbUS /treɪn/

create by training and teaching

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/

activity leading to skilled behavior

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

tunenounUS /tuːn/

a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading These were the women druids, Bovmall and Lia Luachra.

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Fionn [pronounce Fewn to rhyme with “tune”] got his first training among women.

wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading There is no wonder in that, for it is the pup’s mother teaches it to fight, and women know that fighting is a necessary art although men pretend there are others that are better.

wonderedverbUS /ˈwʌndərd/

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading It will be wondered why his own mother did not train him in the first natural savageries of existence, but she could not do it.

Chapter 6 of Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens holds 68 sentences, grouped into 14 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 6 of Irish Fairy Tales contain?

Chapter 6 holds 68 sentences of Irish Fairy Tales, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 68 sentences, grouped into 14 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 6 of Irish Fairy Tales?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 Irish Fairy Tales

Common questions about reading Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Irish Fairy Tales?

Yes. All 3329 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2892 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Irish Fairy Tales is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2892, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Irish Fairy Tales take to read?

About 277 minutes of reading across 666 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Irish Fairy Tales section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Irish Fairy Tales 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 Irish Fairy Tales

Words and structures a reader meets early in Irish Fairy Tales, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Finnian
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Irish Fairy Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Abbott
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Irish Fairy Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Moville
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Irish Fairy Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Southwards
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Irish Fairy Tales; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.