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The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
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Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.
He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.
I asked him what was the matter with him.
He asked me again, Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”
I asked him what he meant.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe is here in full — 155 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.
/əˈpɑːn ðə hoʊl aɪ wɑːz baɪ ðɪs taɪm soʊ fɪkst əˈpɑːn maɪ dɪˈzaɪn ʌv ˈɡoʊɪŋ ˈoʊvər wɪð hɪm tuː ðə ˈkɑːntənənt ðæt aɪ toʊld hɪm wiː wʊd ɡoʊ ənd meɪk wʌn æz bɪɡ æz ðæt ənd hiː ʃʊd ɡoʊ hoʊm ɪn ɪt/
Line 2
He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.
/hiː ˈænsərd nɑːt wʌn wɜːrd bʌt lʊkt ˈveri ɡreɪv ənd sæd/
Line 3
I asked him what was the matter with him.
/aɪ æskt hɪm wʌt wɑːz ðə ˈmætər wɪð hɪm/
Line 4
He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”
Line 5
I asked him what he meant.
/aɪ æskt hɪm wʌt hiː ment/

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.

angry adjective US /ˈæŋɡri/

feeling or showing anger

From this reading “He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?””

continent noun US /ˈkɑːntənənt/

one of the large landmasses of the earth

From this reading “Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.”

design noun US /dɪˈzaɪn/

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading “Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.”

fixed adjective US /fɪkst/

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading “Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.”

Friday noun US /ˈfraɪdi/

the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day

From this reading “He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?””

grave noun US /ɡreɪv/

death of a person

From this reading “He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.”

mad adjective US /mæd/

roused to anger

From this reading “He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?””

sad adjective US /sæd/

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading “He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/

feeling or showing anger

From this reading He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”

answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

askedverbUS /æskt/

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

From this reading I asked him what was the matter with him.

bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

continentnounUS /ˈkɑːntənənt/

one of the large landmasses of the earth

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

designnounUS /dɪˈzaɪn/

the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”

fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/

the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day

From this reading He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

gravenounUS /ɡreɪv/

death of a person

From this reading He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.

madadjectiveUS /mæd/

roused to anger

From this reading He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading I asked him what was the matter with him.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”

meantverbUS /ment/

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading I asked him what he meant.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

sadadjectiveUS /sæd/

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I asked him what was the matter with him.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading He answered not one word, but looked very grave and sad.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over with him to the continent that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading He asked me again, “Why you angry mad with Friday?—what me done?”

Chapter 16 of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe holds 155 sentences, grouped into 31 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 16 of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe contain?

Chapter 16 holds 155 sentences of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 155 sentences, grouped into 31 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 16 of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Common questions about reading The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe?

Yes. All 2262 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #521 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #521, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe take to read?

About 188 minutes of reading across 453 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe section by section

How to work through The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 20 chapters of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe to begin.

  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Family
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Though
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Country
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Father
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.