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The Hunting of the Snark
The Hunting of the Snark

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Hunting of the Snark is here in full — 222 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Hunting of the Snark
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.
Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.
Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!
Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.
Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Hunting of the Snark

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Hunting of the Snark is here in full — 222 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.
Line 2
Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.
Line 3
Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!
Line 4
Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.
Line 5
Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!

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.

Memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.”

All words in this reading · 79

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.

a

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

Ah

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

From this reading Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!

all

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

and

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

annoy

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

are

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

as

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

ask

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

boyish

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

by

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

Chat

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

Child

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

dear

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

Deem

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

delight

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

Eager

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

Empty

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

for

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

friendly

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

from

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

garb

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

Girt

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

golden

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

happy

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

From this reading Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!

he

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

heart-love

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

From this reading Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!

Hearts

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

her

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

hours

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

if

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

in

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

Inscribed

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

intent

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

joy

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

From this reading Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!

knee

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

life

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

list

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

loves

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

Maid

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

of

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

on

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

outer

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

owns

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

From this reading Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!

pure

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

read

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

rescue

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

Rest

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

Rude

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

sea

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

seething

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

she

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

simple

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

spade

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

spirits

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

spright

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

strife

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

such

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

summer

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

sweet

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

tale

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

talk

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

task

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

tell

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

tenderest

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

From this reading Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!

that

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

The

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

to

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

unbeguiled

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

Unmeet

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

waste

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

well

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

whispers

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

From this reading Inscribed to a dear Child: in memory of golden summer hours and whispers of a summer sea.

who

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

From this reading Ah, happy he who owns that tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child!

wields

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

wiser

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

From this reading Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled.

with

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

yet

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

From this reading Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on a friendly knee, intent to ask The tale he loves to tell.

you

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

From this reading Rude spirits of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if you list, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight!

Chapter 1 of The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll holds 222 sentences, grouped into 45 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 1 of The Hunting of the Snark contain?

Chapter 1 holds 222 sentences of The Hunting of the Snark, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 222 sentences, grouped into 45 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 1 of The Hunting of the Snark?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Hunting of the Snark

Common questions about reading The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Hunting of the Snark?

Yes. All 222 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #13 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Hunting of the Snark is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #13, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Hunting of the Snark take to read?

About 18 minutes of reading across 45 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Hunting of the Snark section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Hunting of the Snark 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 Hunting of the Snark

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Hunting of the Snark, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Inscribed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hunting of the Snark; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Child
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hunting of the Snark; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Memory
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hunting of the Snark; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Golden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hunting of the Snark; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.