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The Red Planet
The Red Planet

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Red Planet is here in full — 346 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Red Planet
Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.
Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.
They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.
The cause in which they made it becomes more sacred.
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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 Red Planet

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Red Planet is here in full — 346 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
Line 2
The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.
Line 3
Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.
/jet tuː ˈhʌndrədz ʌv ˈθaʊzəndz ʌv ˈmɔːrnɪŋ men ənd ˈwɪmən ðer hæz bɪn ˈnʌθɪŋ bʌt ɪts truːθ tuː brɪŋ ˌkɑːnsəˈleɪʃən/
Line 4
They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.
/ðeɪ ɑːr ˈkɑːnʃəs ʌv ðə səˈpriːm ˈsækrəfaɪs ənd ˈðerˈbaɪ ɑːr ɪˈnoʊbəld/
Line 5
The cause in which they made it becomes more sacred.
/ðə kɑːz ɪn wɪtʃ ðeɪ meɪd ɪt bɪˈkʌmz mɔːr ˈseɪkrəd/

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.

cant noun US /kænt/

stock phrases that have become nonsense through endless repetition

From this reading “The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.”

decorum noun US /dɪˈkɔːrəm/

propriety in manners and conduct

From this reading “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.”

ennobled verb US /ɪˈnoʊbəld/

past form of “ennoble” — confer dignity or honor upon

From this reading “They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.”

est noun US /est/

standard time in the 5th time zone west of Greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern United States

From this reading “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.”

judicious adjective US /dʒuːˈdɪʃəs/

marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters

From this reading “The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.”

pro noun US /proʊ/

an athlete who plays for pay

From this reading “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.”

tag verb US /tæɡ/

attach a tag or label to

From this reading “The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.”

unending adjective US /əˈnendɪŋ/

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading “The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.”

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 The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

becomesverbUS /bɪˈkʌmz/

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading The cause in which they made it becomes more sacred.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

bringverbUS /brɪŋ/

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

cantnounUS /kænt/

stock phrases that have become nonsense through endless repetition

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

causenounUS /kɑːz/

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading The cause in which they made it becomes more sacred.

consciousadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnʃəs/

intentionally conceived

From this reading They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.

consolationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəˈleɪʃən/

the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

decorumnounUS /dɪˈkɔːrəm/

propriety in manners and conduct

From this reading Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

Dulce

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

From this reading Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

ennobledverbUS /ɪˈnoʊbəld/

past form of “ennoble” — confer dignity or honor upon

From this reading They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.

estnounUS /est/

standard time in the 5th time zone west of Greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern United States

From this reading Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

et

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

From this reading Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

hundredsnounUS /ˈhʌndrədz/

plural of “hundred” — ten 10s

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The cause in which they made it becomes more sacred.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

judiciousadjectiveUS /dʒuːˈdɪʃəs/

marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The cause in which they made it becomes more sacred.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The cause in which they made it becomes more sacred.

mori

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

From this reading Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

outworn

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

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

patria

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

From this reading Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

phrasenounUS /freɪz/

an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

pronounUS /proʊ/

an athlete who plays for pay

From this reading Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

sacredadjectiveUS /ˈseɪkrəd/

concerned with religion or religious purposes

From this reading The cause in which they made it becomes more sacred.

sacrificenounUS /ˈsækrəfaɪs/

the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.

From this reading They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.

shrinkverbUS /ʃrɪŋk/

wither, as with a loss of moisture

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/

final or last in your life or progress

From this reading They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.

tagverbUS /tæɡ/

attach a tag or label to

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/

by that means or because of that

From this reading They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They are conscious of the supreme sacrifice and thereby are ennobled.

thousandsnounUS /ˈθaʊzəndz/

plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

truthnounUS /truːθ/

a fact that has been verified

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

unendingadjectiveUS /əˈnendɪŋ/

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/

an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The tag has been all but outworn during these unending days of death; it has become almost a cant phrase which the judicious shrink from using.

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet to hundreds of thousands of mourning men and women there has been nothing but its truth to bring consolation.

Chapter 1 of The Red Planet by William John Locke holds 346 sentences, grouped into 70 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 Red Planet contain?

Chapter 1 holds 346 sentences of The Red Planet, unabridged, divided into 70 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Red Planet by William John Locke exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 346 sentences, grouped into 70 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 Red Planet?

Work through the 70 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 70 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 Red Planet

Common questions about reading The Red Planet by William John Locke on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Red Planet?

Yes. All 7299 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4287 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Red Planet is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4287, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Red Planet take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1460 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Red Planet section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of The Red Planet 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 Red Planet

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

Dulce
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red Planet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Decorum
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red Planet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Patria
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red Planet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Outworn
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red Planet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.