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Shorter Prose Pieces
Shorter Prose Pieces

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Shorter Prose Pieces is here in full — 103 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Shorter Prose Pieces
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.
What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.
Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.
If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.
Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.
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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.

Shorter Prose Pieces

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Shorter Prose Pieces is here in full — 103 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.
/ðə fɜːrst ˈduːti ɪn laɪf ɪz tuː biː æz ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl æz ˈpɑːsəbəl/
Line 2
What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.
/wʌt ðə ˈsekənd ˈduːti ɪz noʊ wʌn hæz æz jet dɪˈskʌvərd/
Line 3
Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.
Line 4
If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.
/ɪf ðə puːr ˈoʊnli hæd ˈproʊfaɪlz ðer wʊd biː noʊ ˈdɪfəkəlti ɪn ˈsɑːlvɪŋ ðə ˈprɑːbləm ʌv ˈpɑːvərti/
Line 5
Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.
/ðoʊz huː siː ˈeni ˈdɪfərəns bɪˈtwiːn soʊl ənd ˈbɑːdi hæv ˈniːðər/

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.

artificial adjective US /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/

contrived by art rather than nature

From this reading “THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.”

attractiveness noun US /əˈtræktɪvnəs/

the quality of arousing interest; being attractive or something that attracts

From this reading “Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.”

invented verb US /ˌɪnˈventəd/

past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort

From this reading “Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.”

myth noun US /mɪθ/

a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

From this reading “Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.”

problem noun US /ˈprɑːbləm/

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading “If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.”

profiles noun US /ˈproʊfaɪlz/

plural of “profile” — an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics

From this reading “If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.”

solving noun US /ˈsɑːlvɪŋ/

finding a solution to a problem

From this reading “If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.”

Wickedness noun US /ˈwɪkədnəs/

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading “Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.”

All words in this reading · 53

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 Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

artificialadjectiveUS /ˌɑːrtəˈfɪʃəl/

contrived by art rather than nature

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

attractivenessnounUS /əˈtræktɪvnəs/

the quality of arousing interest; being attractive or something that attracts

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

difficultynounUS /ˈdɪfəkəlti/

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

discoveredadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

inventedverbUS /ˌɪnˈventəd/

past form of “invent” — come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

mythnounUS /mɪθ/

a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

others

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

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

pooradjectiveUS /puːr/

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/

capable of happening or existing

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

povertynounUS /ˈpɑːvərti/

the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

profilesnounUS /ˈproʊfaɪlz/

plural of “profile” — an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

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

From this reading What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

solvingnounUS /ˈsɑːlvɪŋ/

finding a solution to a problem

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Those who see any difference between soul and body have neither.

WickednessnounUS /ˈwɪkədnəs/

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading What the second duty is no one has as yet discovered.

Chapter 1 of Shorter Prose Pieces by Oscar Wilde holds 103 sentences, grouped into 21 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 Shorter Prose Pieces contain?

Chapter 1 holds 103 sentences of Shorter Prose Pieces, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Shorter Prose Pieces by Oscar Wilde exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 103 sentences, grouped into 21 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 Shorter Prose Pieces?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 Shorter Prose Pieces

Common questions about reading Shorter Prose Pieces by Oscar Wilde on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Shorter Prose Pieces?

Yes. All 314 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2061 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Shorter Prose Pieces is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2061, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Shorter Prose Pieces take to read?

About 26 minutes of reading across 63 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Shorter Prose Pieces section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of Shorter Prose Pieces 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 Shorter Prose Pieces

Words and structures a reader meets early in Shorter Prose Pieces, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Shorter Prose Pieces; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Artificial
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Shorter Prose Pieces; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Possible
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Shorter Prose Pieces; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Second
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Shorter Prose Pieces; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.