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Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde
Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde is here in full — 86 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
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_This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.
_Second Edition_, _February_, _1898_.
_Third Edition_, _March 1898_.
_Fourth Edition_, _March 1898_.
_Fifth Edition_, _March 1898_.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde is here in full — 86 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.
Line 2
_Second Edition_, _February_, _1898_.
Line 3
_Third Edition_, _March 1898_.
Line 4
_Fourth Edition_, _March 1898_.
Line 5
_Fifth Edition_, _March 1898_.

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.

Ballad noun US /ˈbæləd/

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading “_This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.”

Edition noun US /əˈdɪʃən/

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

February noun US /ˈfebjəweri/

the month following January and preceding March

Fifth noun US /fɪfθ/

a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon

Goal noun US /ɡoʊl/

the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it

Leonard noun US /ˈlenərd/

United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925)

From this reading “_This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.”

published adjective US /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading “_This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.”

September noun US /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

All words in this reading · 27

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.

13

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

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

17

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

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

1898

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

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

1911

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

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

AugustnounUS /ˈɑːɡəst/

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

BalladnounUS /ˈbæləd/

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

EditionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

FifthnounUS /fɪfθ/

a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon

From this reading _Fifth Edition_, _March 1898_.

FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

FourthnounUS /fɔːrθ/

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading _Fourth Edition_, _March 1898_.

GoalnounUS /ɡoʊl/

the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

LeonardnounUS /ˈlenərd/

United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925)

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

MarchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/

march in a procession

From this reading _Third Edition_, _March 1898_.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

PublishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

ReadingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

SecondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

Smithers

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

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

thnounUS /ˈtiːˈeɪtʃ/

the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

ThirdnounUS /θɜːrd/

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

VolumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading _This Volume was First _August 17th_, _1911_ Published_ _Second Edition_ _August_ _1911_ _Third Edition_ _September_ _1911_ ‘_The Ballad of Reading Goal_’ _was first published by Leonard Smithers_, _February 13th_, _1898_.

Chapter 1 of Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde holds 86 sentences, grouped into 18 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 1 of Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde contain?

Chapter 1 holds 86 sentences of Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 86 sentences, grouped into 18 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 Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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.

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Yes. All 380 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1141 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #1141, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 31 minutes of reading across 76 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde

Words and structures a reader meets early in Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Volume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Selected Poems of Oscar Wilde; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First
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August
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Published
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