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Light

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of Light is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Light
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.
Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.
It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.
A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.
Marie is working in the house, downstairs.
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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.

Light

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of Light is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.
Line 2
Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.
Line 3
It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.
/ɪt ɪz sʌtʃ ə ˈneroʊ ruːm ðæt tuː ɡet tuː ðə ˈwɪndoʊ aɪ mʌst tʌtʃ hɜːr ˈtaɪdi ˈlɪtəl bed ənd aɪ θɪŋk ʌv hɜːr æz aɪ pæs ɪt/
Line 4
A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.
/ə bed ɪz ˈsʌmθɪŋ wɪtʃ ˈnevər siːmz ˈiːðər soʊ koʊld ɔːr soʊ ˈlaɪfləs æz ˈʌðər θɪŋz ɪt lɪvz baɪ æn ˈæbsəns/
Line 5
Marie is working in the house, downstairs.

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.

absence noun US /ˈæbsəns/

the state of being absent

From this reading “A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.”

bedroom noun US /ˈbedruːm/

a room used primarily for sleeping

From this reading “Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.”

downstairs adverb US /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/

on a floor below

From this reading “Marie is working in the house, downstairs.”

gives noun US /ɡɪvz/

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading “Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.”

lifeless adjective US /ˈlaɪfləs/

deprived of life; no longer living

From this reading “A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.”

panes noun US /peɪnz/

plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors

From this reading “FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.”

refuge noun US /ˈrefjuːdʒ/

a safe place

From this reading “FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.”

tidy adjective US /ˈtaɪdi/

marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits

From this reading “It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/

the state of being absent

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

bedroomnounUS /ˈbedruːm/

a room used primarily for sleeping

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/

on a floor below

From this reading Marie is working in the house, downstairs.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

FACEnounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

givesnounUS /ɡɪvz/

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Marie is working in the house, downstairs.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Marie is working in the house, downstairs.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

lifelessadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪfləs/

deprived of life; no longer living

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

livesnounUS /lɪvz/

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

Marie

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

From this reading Marie is working in the house, downstairs.

Marie's

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

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/

many times at short intervals

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

panesnounUS /peɪnz/

plural of “pane” — sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

refugenounUS /ˈrefjuːdʒ/

a safe place

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading A bed is something which never seems either so cold or so lifeless as other things; it lives by an absence.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

ThroughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

tidyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪdi/

marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

viewnounUS /vjuː/

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Then I go into Marie's bedroom, which gives a view of the country.

windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading It is such a narrow room that to get to the window I must touch her tidy little bed, and I think of her as I pass it.

windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading FACE TO FACE Through the panes I see the town--I often take refuge at the windows.

workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading Marie is working in the house, downstairs.

Chapter 23 of Light by Henri Barbusse holds 269 sentences, grouped into 54 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, 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 23 of Light contain?

Chapter 23 holds 269 sentences of Light, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of Light by Henri Barbusse exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 269 sentences, grouped into 54 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 23 of Light?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 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 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 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 Light

Common questions about reading Light by Henri Barbusse on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Light?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Light is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Light take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Light section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of Light 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 Light

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

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of Light, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of Light, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of Light, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.