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"My Novel" — Complete
"My Novel" — Complete

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of "My Novel" — Complete is here in full — 273 sentences across 55 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/54 · 5 lines
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There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.
What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.
Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, what does experience prove?”
That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”
Squire,” replied the parson, although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

"My Novel" — Complete

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of "My Novel" — Complete is here in full — 273 sentences across 55 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/54 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.
Line 2
What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.
Line 3
Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”
/pruːv rɪˈpiːtɪd ˈmɪstər deɪl wɪð ə smaɪl ʌv bɪˈnaɪn jet tuː ˈkɑːnʃəs ˌsuːpɪriˈɔːrɪti wʌt dʌz ɪkˈspɪriəns pruːv/
Line 4
That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”
/ðæt jɔːr ˈfɔːrfɑːðərz wɜːr ɡreɪt ˈblɑːkhedz ənd ðæt ðer dɪˈsendənt ɪz nɑːt ə wɪt ðə ˈwaɪzər/
Line 5
Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

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.

benign adjective US /bɪˈnaɪn/

not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)

From this reading ““Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?””

blockheads noun US /ˈblɑːkhedz/

plural of “blockhead” — a stupid person; these words are used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence

From this reading ““That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.””

Dales noun US /deɪlz/

plural of “dale” — an open river valley (in a hilly area)

From this reading ““Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.””

descendant noun US /dɪˈsendənt/

a person considered as descended from some ancestor

From this reading ““That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.””

forefathers noun US /ˈfɔːrfɑːðərz/

plural of “forefather” — the founder of a family

From this reading ““That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.””

reasoner noun US /ˈriːzənər/

someone who reasons logically

From this reading ““Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.””

universally adverb US /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəli/

everywhere

From this reading ““Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.””

whit noun US /wɪt/

a tiny or scarcely detectable amount

From this reading ““That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.””

All words in this reading · 75

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 “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

applyverbUS /əˈplaɪ/

put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

benignadjectiveUS /bɪˈnaɪn/

not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

blockheadsnounUS /ˈblɑːkhedz/

plural of “blockhead” — a stupid person; these words are used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

candournoun

the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

challengeverbUS /ˈtʃæləndʒ/

take exception to

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

conclusionnounUS /kənˈkluːʒən/

a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

consciousadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnʃəs/

intentionally conceived

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

DalenounUS /deɪl/

an open river valley (in a hilly area)

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

DalesnounUS /deɪlz/

plural of “dale” — an open river valley (in a hilly area)

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

descendantnounUS /dɪˈsendənt/

a person considered as descended from some ancestor

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

experienceverbUS /ɪkˈspɪriəns/

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

facenounUS /feɪs/

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

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

familynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

forefathersnounUS /ˈfɔːrfɑːðərz/

plural of “forefather” — the founder of a family

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

humilitynounUS /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/

a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

I've

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

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

melancholynounUS /ˈmelənkɑːli/

a feeling of thoughtful sadness

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/

subject to death

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/

a local church community

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

ParsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

permitnounUS /pərˈmɪt/

a legal document giving official permission to do something

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

proveverbUS /pruːv/

be shown or be found to be

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

quoth

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

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

reasonernounUS /ˈriːzənər/

someone who reasons logically

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

repeatedadjectiveUS /rɪˈpiːtɪd/

recurring again and again

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

sharplyadverbUS /ˈʃɑːrpli/

in an aggressive manner

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

smileverbUS /smaɪl/

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

squirenounUS /skwaɪr/

young nobleman attendant on a knight

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

superioritynounUS /ˌsuːpɪriˈɔːrɪti/

the quality of being superior

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

universallyadverbUS /ˌjuːnəˈvɜːrsəli/

everywhere

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

usenounUS /juːs/

the act of using

From this reading “There has never been occasion to use them since I’ve been in the parish,” said Parson Dale.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What does that prove?” quoth the squire, sharply, and looking the parson full in the face.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

whitnounUS /wɪt/

a tiny or scarcely detectable amount

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

wiseradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪzər/

comparative of “wise” — having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Prove!” repeated Mr. Dale, with a smile of benign, yet too conscious superiority, “what does experience prove?”

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Squire,” replied the parson, “although that is a melancholy conclusion, yet if you mean it to apply universally, and not to the family of the Dales in particular; it is not one which my candour as a reasoner, and my humility as a mortal, will permit me to challenge.”

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “That your forefathers were great blockheads, and that their descendant is not a whit the wiser.”

Chapter 1 of "My Novel" — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton holds 273 sentences, grouped into 55 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 1 of "My Novel" — Complete contain?

Chapter 1 holds 273 sentences of "My Novel" — Complete, unabridged, divided into 55 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of "My Novel" — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 273 sentences, grouped into 55 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 1 of "My Novel" — Complete?

Work through the 55 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 55 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 "My Novel" — Complete

Common questions about reading "My Novel" — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of "My Novel" — Complete?

Yes. All 22083 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7714 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of "My Novel" — Complete is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7714, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does "My Novel" — Complete take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 4417 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read "My Novel" — Complete section by section

How to work through "My Novel" — Complete section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in "My Novel" — Complete

Words and structures a reader meets early in "My Novel" — Complete, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Never
A word that appears in the opening chapter of "My Novel" — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Occasion
A word that appears in the opening chapter of "My Novel" — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Since
A word that appears in the opening chapter of "My Novel" — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Parish
A word that appears in the opening chapter of "My Novel" — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.