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The Chessmen of Mars
The Chessmen of Mars

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Chessmen of Mars is here in full — 199 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
A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"
The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"
"Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.
"Where is he then?" asked I-Gos.
"Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"
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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 XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Chessmen of Mars is here in full — 199 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"
Line 2
The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"
Line 3
"Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.
Line 4
"Where is he then?" asked I-Gos.
Line 5
"Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

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.

chambers noun US /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/

English architect (1723-1796)

From this reading “The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"”

chiefs noun US /tʃiːfs/

plural of “chief” — a person who is in charge

From this reading “"Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.”

chieftains noun US /ˈtʃiːftənz/

plural of “chieftain” — the leader of a group of people

From this reading “The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"”

craven adjective US /ˈkreɪvən/

lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful

From this reading “A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"”

doddering adjective US /ˈdɑːdərɪŋ/

mentally or physically infirm with age

From this reading “A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"”

knot noun US /nɑːt/

a tight cluster of people or things

From this reading “The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"”

speaker noun US /ˈspiːkər/

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading “The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"”

throne noun US /θroʊn/

the chair of state for a monarch, bishop, etc.

From this reading “"Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"”

All words in this reading · 58

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 A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

A-Kor

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

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

addressedadjectiveUS /əˈdrest/

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/

possessing life

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Where is he then?" asked I-Gos.

belovedadjectiveUS /bɪˈlʌvd/

dearly loved

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

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

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

chambersnounUS /ˈtʃeɪmbərz/

English architect (1723-1796)

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

chiefsnounUS /tʃiːfs/

plural of “chief” — a person who is in charge

From this reading "Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.

chieftainsnounUS /ˈtʃiːftənz/

plural of “chieftain” — the leader of a group of people

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

cravenadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪvən/

lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading "Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.

demandedverbUS /dɪˈmændəd/

past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully

From this reading "Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.

disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

dodderingadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːdərɪŋ/

mentally or physically infirm with age

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

Ey

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

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

foolnounUS /fuːl/

a person who lacks good judgment

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

I-Gos

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

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

Jeddak

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

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

knotnounUS /nɑːt/

a tight cluster of people or things

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

LOVEnounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

Manator

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

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

O-Tar

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

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

others

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

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

palacenounUS /ˈpæləs/

a large and stately mansion

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

RISKnounUS /rɪsk/

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading A RISK FOR LOVE "Ey, ey, he is a craven and he called me 'doddering fool'!"

saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading "Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/

someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "Where is he then?" asked I-Gos.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

thronenounUS /θroʊn/

the chair of state for a monarch, bishop, etc.

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

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 "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The speaker was I-Gos and he addressed a knot of chieftains in one of the chambers of the palace of O-Tar, Jeddak of Manator: "If A-Kor was alive there were a jeddak for us!"

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "Where is he then?" asked I-Gos.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "Who says that A-Kor is dead?" demanded one of the chiefs.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Have not others disappeared whom O-Tar thought too well beloved for men so near the throne as they?"

Chapter 21 of The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs holds 199 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 21 of The Chessmen of Mars contain?

Chapter 21 holds 199 sentences of The Chessmen of Mars, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 199 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 21 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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.