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The Chessmen of Mars
The Chessmen of Mars

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Chessmen of Mars is here in full — 198 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.
Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.
Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?
He did not know.
He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Chessmen of Mars

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Chessmen of Mars is here in full — 198 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.
Line 2
Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.
/ˈriːsəntli ˈsʌmθɪŋ hæd əˈweɪkənd wɪˈðɪn hɪm ðə eɡˈzɪstəns ʌv wɪtʃ hiː hæd ˈnevər bɪˈfɔːr ˈiːvɪn driːmd/
Line 3
Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?
/hæd ðə ˈɪnfluːəns ʌv ðə streɪndʒ ˈkæptɪv ˈwʊmən ɔːt tuː duː wɪð ðɪs ənˈrest ənd ˌdɪsætɪˈsfækʃən/
Line 4
He did not know.
/hiː dɪd nɑːt noʊ/
Line 5
He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing.
/hiː mɪst ðə ˈsuːðɪŋ ˈɪnfluːəns ʌv ðə nɔɪz ʃiː kɔːld ˈsɪŋɪŋ/

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.

captive noun US /ˈkæptɪv/

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading “Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?”

dissatisfaction noun US /ˌdɪsætɪˈsfækʃən/

the feeling of being displeased and discontent

From this reading “Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?”

foreman noun US /ˈfɔːrmən/

a person who exercises control over workers

From this reading “CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.”

humiliation noun US /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃən/

state of disgrace or loss of self-respect

From this reading “CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.”

nursing noun US /ˈnɜːrsɪŋ/

the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm

From this reading “CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.”

Recently adverb US /ˈriːsəntli/

in the recent past

From this reading “Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.”

soothing adjective US /ˈsuːðɪŋ/

affording physical relief

From this reading “He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing.”

unrest noun US /ənˈrest/

a state of agitation or turbulent change or development

From this reading “Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

angernounUS /ˈæŋɡər/

a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

aughtnounUS /ɔːt/

a quantity of no importance

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/

aroused or activated

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing.

captivenounUS /ˈkæptɪv/

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

CLOSEadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He did not know.

dissatisfactionnounUS /ˌdɪsætɪˈsfækʃən/

the feeling of being displeased and discontent

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

dreamedadjectiveUS /driːmd/

conceived of or imagined or hoped for

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/

the state or fact of existing

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

fieldsnounUS /fiːldz/

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

foremannounUS /ˈfɔːrmən/

a person who exercises control over workers

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

Ghek

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

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

happieradjectiveUS /ˈhæpiər/

comparative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

humiliationnounUS /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃən/

state of disgrace or loss of self-respect

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

influencenounUS /ˈɪnfluːəns/

a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading He did not know.

Luud

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

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

missedadjectiveUS /mɪst/

not caught with the senses or the mind

From this reading He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

noisenounUS /nɔɪz/

sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)

From this reading He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not know.

nursingnounUS /ˈnɜːrsɪŋ/

the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

RecentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/

in the recent past

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing.

singingnounUS /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

soothingadjectiveUS /ˈsuːðɪŋ/

affording physical relief

From this reading He missed the soothing influence of the noise she called singing.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

unrestnounUS /ənˈrest/

a state of agitation or turbulent change or development

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Recently something had awakened within him the existence of which he had never before even dreamed.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Had the influence of the strange captive woman aught to do with this unrest and dissatisfaction?

WORKverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading CLOSE WORK Ghek, in his happier days third foreman of the fields of Luud, sat nursing his anger and his humiliation.

Chapter 8 of The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs holds 198 sentences, grouped into 40 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 8 of The Chessmen of Mars contain?

Chapter 8 holds 198 sentences of The Chessmen of Mars, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 198 sentences, grouped into 40 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 8 of The Chessmen of Mars?

Work through the 40 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 40 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 The Chessmen of Mars

Common questions about reading The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Chessmen of Mars?

Yes. All 4587 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1153 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Chessmen of Mars is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1153, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Chessmen of Mars take to read?

About 382 minutes of reading across 918 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Chessmen of Mars section by section

How to work through The Chessmen of Mars section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 22 chapters of The Chessmen of Mars 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 The Chessmen of Mars

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Chessmen of Mars, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Helium
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chessmen of Mars; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Silks
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chessmen of Mars; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Reclining
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chessmen of Mars; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stretched
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chessmen of Mars; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.