Chapter 2 of The Back of Our Heads is here in full — 451 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of The Back of Our Heads is here in full — 451 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said. "Go to your room!" Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door. "Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer. He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
Chapter 2 of The Back of Our Heads is here in full — 451 sentences across 91 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/90 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
in a state of sleep
From this reading “He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.”
behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
From this reading “"You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.”
a female grandchild
From this reading “"You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.”
an executioner who beheads the condemned person
From this reading “"You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.”
plural of “lieutenant” — a commissioned military officer
From this reading “He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.”
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading “He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.”
in a way that was not expected
From this reading “Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.”
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading “He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.”
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.
cause to become awake or conscious
In this reading “He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.”
a conventional expression of farewell
In this reading “"Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer.”
rise to one's feet
In this reading “Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.”
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.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.
react verbally
From this reading "Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer.
in a state of sleep
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
From this reading "You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.
divisible by two
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Go to your room!"
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.
a female grandchild
From this reading "You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer.
an executioner who beheads the condemned person
From this reading "You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
plural of “lieutenant” — a commissioned military officer
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Good night, Captain," she said, but he did not answer.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
on the contrary
From this reading Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "Go to your room!"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Go to your room!"
in a way that was not expected
From this reading Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Rather unexpectedly, she got up and walked to the door.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
at the time that
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading He was asleep and so were his lieutenants, and, since there were poppyheads in the wine, they did not wake up even when, an hour later, the shouting began outside.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You behave like one, Granddaughter!" the headman said.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Go to your room!"
Chapter 2 of The Back of Our Heads by Stephen Barr holds 451 sentences, grouped into 91 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.
Chapter 2 holds 451 sentences of The Back of Our Heads, unabridged, divided into 91 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of The Back of Our Heads by Stephen Barr exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 451 sentences, grouped into 91 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.
Work through the 91 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 91 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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.
Common questions about reading The Back of Our Heads by Stephen Barr on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1327 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51823 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #51823, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 110 minutes of reading across 266 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Back of Our Heads section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 3 chapters of The Back of Our Heads to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Back of Our Heads, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
