The Dark Forest

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Dark Forest is here in full — 356 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Hugh Walpole • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

I went with Anna Petrovna to the cholera village that is on the outskirts of the forest, and I recollect that we hastened back because that evening we were to celebrate the conclusion of the first six months' work of our Otriad.

Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter IX Reading 1/71

The Dark Forest Hugh Walpole

Chapter IX

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Dark Forest is here in full — 356 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----. I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention. I went with Anna Petrovna to the cholera village that is on the outskirts of the forest, and I recollect that we hastened back because that evening we were to celebrate the conclusion of the first six months' work of our Otriad. Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me. Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

The Dark Forest

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Dark Forest is here in full — 356 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

Line 2

I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

/aɪ dɪd nɑːt aɪ rɪˈmɛm.bər peɪ ðə ɪˈvent ˈeni əˈspeʃəl əˈtenʃən/

Line 3

Line 4

Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

/ʌv maɪ ˈentrəns ˈɪntuː ðə ˈfɔːrəst aɪ rɪˈmɛm.bər ˌæbsəˈluːtli ˈnʌθɪŋ ɪt siːmd aɪ səˈpoʊz æn ˈɔːrdəneri ɪˈnʌf ˈfɔːrəst tuː miː/

Line 5

Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

/ʌv ðə feˈstɪvətiz ɪn ðə ˈiːvnɪŋ aɪ hæv ə ˈveri klɪr ˌrekəˈlekʃən/

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.

Anna noun US /ˈænə/

a former copper coin of Pakistan and India

From this reading “I went with Anna Petrovna to the cholera village that is on the outskirts of the forest, and I recollect that we hastened back because that evening we were to celebrate the conclusion of the first six months' work of our Otriad.”

celebrate verb US /ˈseləbreɪt/

behave as expected during of holidays or rites

cholera noun US /ˈkɑːlərə/

an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food

especial adjective US /əˈspeʃəl/

surpassing what is common or usual or expected

From this reading “I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.”

festivities noun US /feˈstɪvətiz/

plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion

From this reading “Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.”

July noun US /ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading “MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.”

outskirts noun US /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/

outlying areas (as of a city or town)

recollect verb US /ˌrekəˈlekt/

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

All words in this reading · 65

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.

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

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

absolutelyadverbUS /ˌæbsəˈluːtli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I went with Anna Petrovna to the cholera village that is on the outskirts of the forest, and I recollect that we hastened back because that evening we were to celebrate the conclusion of the first six months' work of our Otriad.

AnnanounUS /ˈænə/

a former copper coin of Pakistan and India

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

celebrateverbUS /ˈseləbreɪt/

behave as expected during of holidays or rites

choleranounUS /ˈkɑːlərə/

an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food

clearverbUS /klɪr/

rid of obstructions

From this reading Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

conclusionnounUS /kənˈkluːʒən/

a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

especialadjectiveUS /əˈspeʃəl/

surpassing what is common or usual or expected

From this reading I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

eventnounUS /ɪˈvent/

something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/

plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion

From this reading Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

ForestnounUS /ˈfɔːrəst/

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

hastenedverbUS /ˈheɪsənd/

past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

IVANOVNA

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

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

JulynounUS /ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

MARIE

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

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

ordinarynounUS /ˈɔːrdəneri/

a judge of a probate court

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

Otriad

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

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

outskirtsnounUS /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/

outlying areas (as of a city or town)

payverbUS /peɪ/

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

Petrovna

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

recollectverbUS /ˌrekəˈlekt/

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/

the ability to recall past occurrences

From this reading Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading I did not, I remember, pay the event any especial attention.

SnounUS /es/

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

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

sixnounUS /sɪks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/

express a supposition

From this reading Of my entrance into the forest I remember absolutely nothing; it seemed, I suppose, an ordinary enough forest to me.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Of the festivities in the evening I have a very clear recollection.

villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/

a community of people smaller than a town

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading MARIE IVANOVNA It was on July 23 that I first entered the Forest of S----.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

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

Chapter 9 of The Dark Forest by Hugh Walpole holds 356 sentences, grouped into 72 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 9 of The Dark Forest contain?

Chapter 9 holds 356 sentences of The Dark Forest, unabridged, divided into 72 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Dark Forest by Hugh Walpole exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 356 sentences, grouped into 72 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 9 of The Dark Forest?

Work through the 72 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 72 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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.

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Is this the complete text of The Dark Forest?

Yes. All 6009 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19614 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #19614, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 500 minutes of reading across 1202 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Dark Forest

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Dark Forest, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

First: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dark Forest; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Figure: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dark Forest; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Evening: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dark Forest; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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