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Tales from Gorky
Tales from Gorky

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Tales from Gorky is here in full — 431 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Tales from Gorky
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.
But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.
However, it doesn't matter.
It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.
Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?
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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.

Tales from Gorky

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of Tales from Gorky is here in full — 431 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.
Line 2
But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.
/bʌt aɪ hæv let maɪ ˈstɔːri ɡet ˈnɑːtɪd ənd ˈtæŋɡəld əˈɡen/
Line 3
However, it doesn't matter.
Line 4
It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.
/ɪt ɪz ˈoʊnli ɪn roʊˈmænsɪz ðæt ðə skeɪn ʌv ɪˈvents riˈvɑːlvz ˈreɡjələrli bʌt ˈaʊər laɪf ɪz æn ˌɪˈreɡjələr ˈkluːləs ˈdʒʌmbəl/
Line 5
Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?
/waɪ duː ðeɪ peɪ ˈmʌni fɔːr roʊˈmænsɪz waɪl aɪ ɡroʊ oʊld ɪn veɪn/

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.

clueless adjective US /ˈkluːləs/

totally uninformed about what is going on; not having even a clue from which to infer what is occurring

From this reading “It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.”

irregular adjective US /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/

contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice

From this reading “It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.”

jumble noun US /ˈdʒʌmbəl/

a confused multitude of things

From this reading “It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.”

knotted adjective US /ˈnɑːtɪd/

tied with a knot

From this reading “But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.”

revolves verb US /riˈvɑːlvz/

third-person singular of “revolve” — turn on or around an axis or a center

From this reading “It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.”

romances noun US /roʊˈmænsɪz/

plural of “romance” — a relationship between two lovers

From this reading “It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.”

skein noun US /skeɪn/

coils of worsted yarn

From this reading “It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.”

tangled adjective US /ˈtæŋɡəld/

in a confused mass

From this reading “But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

never experienced adverb + adjective

In this reading “Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.”

grow old verb + adjective

In this reading “Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?”

All words in this reading · 60

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.

climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/

an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

cluelessadjectiveUS /ˈkluːləs/

totally uninformed about what is going on; not having even a clue from which to infer what is occurring

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

desirenounUS /dɪˈzaɪər/

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

doesn't

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

From this reading However, it doesn't matter.

don't

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

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

experiencedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspɪriənst/

having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.

growverbUS /ɡroʊ/

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

HeavennounUS /ˈhevən/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, it doesn't matter.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

imagineverbUS /ˌɪˈmædʒən/

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/

contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

jumblenounUS /ˈdʒʌmbəl/

a confused multitude of things

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

knottedadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːtɪd/

tied with a knot

From this reading But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading However, it doesn't matter.

moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

payverbUS /peɪ/

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

PrayverbUS /preɪ/

address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

regularlyadverbUS /ˈreɡjələrli/

in a regular manner

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

revolvesverbUS /riˈvɑːlvz/

third-person singular of “revolve” — turn on or around an axis or a center

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

romancesnounUS /roʊˈmænsɪz/

plural of “romance” — a relationship between two lovers

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

skeinnounUS /skeɪn/

coils of worsted yarn

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

soundsnounUS /saʊndz/

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/

in a confused mass

From this reading But I have let my story get knotted and tangled again.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It is only in romances that the skein of events revolves regularly; but our life is an irregular, clueless jumble.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

vainadjectiveUS /veɪn/

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Pray don't imagine that I also am climbing up to Heaven--I have never experienced any such desire--I only say it because it sounds well.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

WhynounUS /waɪ/

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

From this reading Why do they pay money for romances while I grow old in vain?

Chapter 5 of Tales from Gorky by Maksim Gorky holds 431 sentences, grouped into 87 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 5 of Tales from Gorky contain?

Chapter 5 holds 431 sentences of Tales from Gorky, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of Tales from Gorky by Maksim Gorky exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 431 sentences, grouped into 87 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 5 of Tales from Gorky?

Work through the 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 87 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Tales from Gorky

Common questions about reading Tales from Gorky by Maksim Gorky on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tales from Gorky?

Yes. All 4267 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #56870 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tales from Gorky is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #56870, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tales from Gorky take to read?

About 355 minutes of reading across 854 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tales from Gorky section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 10 chapters of Tales from Gorky 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 Tales from Gorky

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

Chances
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales from Gorky; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Friendless
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales from Gorky; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Feeble
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales from Gorky; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Constitution
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales from Gorky; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.