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The Furnace
The Furnace

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of The Furnace is here in full — 287 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Rose Macaulay • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Furnace
Context Illustration Reading 1/57 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....
The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.
'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'
WALT WHITMAN.
There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.
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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.

The Furnace

Chapter XI

Chapter 11 of The Furnace is here in full — 287 sentences across 58 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/57 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....
/ðə ɪˈtɜːrnəl roʊdz wiː ɑːr ðə ˈkriːtʃərz ʌv bɜːrθ ʌv ˈænsestri ʌv ˈsɜːrkəmstæns wiː ɑːr sərˈaʊndɪd baɪ lɔː ˈfɪzɪkəl ənd ˈsaɪkɪkəl/
Line 2
The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.
Line 3
'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'
Line 4
WALT WHITMAN.
Line 5
There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

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.

ancestry noun US /ˈænsestri/

the descendants of one individual

From this reading “THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
brightness noun US /ˈbraɪtnəs/

the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white

From this reading “There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
circumstance noun US /ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/

a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

From this reading “THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eluded verb US /ɪˈluːdɪd/

past form of “elude” — escape, either physically or mentally

From this reading “'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Naples noun US /ˈneɪpəlz/

a port and tourist center in southwestern Italy; capital of the Campania region

From this reading “There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
psychical adjective US /ˈsaɪkɪkəl/

affecting or influenced by the human mind

From this reading “THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roads noun US /roʊdz/

a partly sheltered anchorage

From this reading “THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whitman noun US /ˈwɪtmən/

United States poet who celebrated the greatness of America (1819-1892)

From this reading “WALT WHITMAN.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

by law preposition + noun

In this reading “THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....”

2,523 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 55

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 The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ancestrynounUS /ˈænsestri/

the descendants of one individual

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading 'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
birthnounUS /bɜːrθ/

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/

the act of breaking something

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/

the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
cannot

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

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

Pending verification
circumstancenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/

a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/

plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
creaturesnounUS /ˈkriːtʃərz/

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eludedverbUS /ɪˈluːdɪd/

past form of “elude” — escape, either physically or mentally

From this reading 'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ETERNALadjectiveUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəl/

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fearverbUS /fɪr/

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/

yet to be or coming

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
HnounUS /eɪtʃ/

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading 'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading 'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JnounUS /dʒeɪ/

a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lawnounUS /lɔː/

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading 'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

of an obscure nature

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NaplesnounUS /ˈneɪpəlz/

a port and tourist center in southwestern Italy; capital of the Campania region

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading 'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
physicaladjectiveUS /ˈfɪzɪkəl/

involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading 'The law of the past cannot be eluded, The law of the present and future cannot be eluded, The law of the living cannot be eluded--it is eternal.'

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
psychicaladjectiveUS /ˈsaɪkɪkəl/

affecting or influenced by the human mind

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ROADSnounUS /roʊdz/

a partly sheltered anchorage

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SHORTHOUSE

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

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

Pending verification
sunshinenounUS /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/

the rays of the sun

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
surroundedadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪd/

confined on all sides

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WALT

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

From this reading WALT WHITMAN.

Pending verification
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was peace in Naples, and sunshine breaking at last through clouds--rest and brightness following days of fear.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waysnounUS /weɪz/

structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading THE ETERNAL ROADS 'We are the creatures of birth, of ancestry, of circumstance; we are surrounded by law, physical and psychical....

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WHITMANnounUS /ˈwɪtmən/

United States poet who celebrated the greatness of America (1819-1892)

From this reading WALT WHITMAN.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading The ways are dark, and the grey years bring a mysterious future which we cannot see.'--J. H. SHORTHOUSE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 11 of The Furnace by Rose Macaulay holds 287 sentences, grouped into 58 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 11 of The Furnace contain?

Chapter 11 holds 287 sentences of The Furnace, unabridged, divided into 58 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of The Furnace by Rose Macaulay exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 287 sentences, grouped into 58 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 11 of The Furnace?

Work through the 58 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 58 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 Furnace

Common questions about reading The Furnace by Rose Macaulay on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Furnace?

Yes. All 2433 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33482 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Furnace is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #33482, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Furnace take to read?

About 202 minutes of reading across 487 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Furnace section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of The Furnace 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 Furnace

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

Other
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Furnace; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Citizens
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Furnace; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Santa
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Furnace; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Caterina
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Furnace; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.