Chapter 5 of The Tragic Muse is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of The Tragic Muse is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this. "Who's Mr. Gabriel Nash?" Mrs. Dallow asked. "Nick, is he a gentleman? Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
Chapter 5 of The Tragic Muse is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
adult female chicken
From this reading “Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.”
made known or openly avowed
From this reading “"My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.”
a gabled extension built out from a sloping roof to accommodate a vertical window
From this reading “Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.”
(Bible) the archangel who was the messenger of God
From this reading “"My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.”
a search for knowledge
From this reading “Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.”
United States writer noted for his droll epigrams (1902-1971)
From this reading “"My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.”
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading “"Nick, is he a gentleman?”
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading “"My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Nick, is he a gentleman?
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Mrs. Dallow asked.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
adult female chicken
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dallow asked.
dearly loved
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
a gabled extension built out from a sloping roof to accommodate a vertical window
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
a boy or man
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
(Bible) the archangel who was the messenger of God
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
a man of refinement
From this reading "Nick, is he a gentleman?
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Nick, is he a gentleman?
a search for knowledge
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Nick, is he a gentleman?
a form of address for a man
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Dallow asked.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
United States writer noted for his droll epigrams (1902-1971)
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading "Nick, is he a gentleman?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Biddy says so," Grace Dormer interposed before this inquiry was answered.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Who's Mr. Gabriel Nash?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My dear fellow, you've caught exactly the tone of Mr. Gabriel Nash," Peter Sherringham declared on this.
Chapter 5 of The Tragic Muse by Henry James holds 412 sentences, grouped into 83 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.
Chapter 5 holds 412 sentences of The Tragic Muse, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of The Tragic Muse by Henry James exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 412 sentences, grouped into 83 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.
Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 83 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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.
Common questions about reading The Tragic Muse by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 11417 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #20085 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #20085, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 2284 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Tragic Muse section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 28 chapters of The Tragic Muse to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Tragic Muse, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
