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The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils is here in full — 420 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.
"Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.
"The white one is ready to collapse."
"Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.
She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.
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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 Wonderful Adventures of Nils

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils is here in full — 420 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.
Line 2
"Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.
Line 3
"The white one is ready to collapse."
/ðə waɪt wʌn ɪz ˈredi tuː kəˈlæps/
Line 4
"Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.
/tel hɪm ðæt hiː huː hæz nɑːt ðə streŋkθ tuː flaɪ wɪð ðə flɑːk kæn ɡoʊ bæk hoʊm kraɪd ðə ˈliːdər/
Line 5
She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

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.

collapse noun US /kəˈlæps/

an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion

From this reading “"The white one is ready to collapse."”

decreasing adjective US /dɪˈkriːsɪŋ/

becoming less or smaller

From this reading “She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.”

flew verb US /fluː/

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading “"Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.”

flock noun US /flɑːk/

a church congregation guided by a pastor

From this reading “"Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.”

leader noun US /ˈliːdər/

a person who rules or guides or inspires others

From this reading “"Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.”

madder noun US /ˈmædər/

Eurasian herb having small yellow flowers and red roots formerly an important source of the dye alizarin

From this reading “"Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.”

raced verb US /reɪst/

past form of “race” — move hurridly

From this reading “She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.”

sounded verb US /ˈsaʊndɪd/

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading “"Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.”

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading "Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.

Akkanoun

a town and port in northwestern Israel in the eastern Mediterranean

From this reading "Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

askedverbUS /æskt/

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

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

Can't

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

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

collapsenounUS /kəˈlæps/

an abrupt failure of function or complete physical exhaustion

From this reading "The white one is ready to collapse."

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.

decreasingadjectiveUS /dɪˈkriːsɪŋ/

becoming less or smaller

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

flewverbUS /fluː/

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading "Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.

flocknounUS /flɑːk/

a church congregation guided by a pastor

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

flyverbUS /flaɪ/

travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "The white one is ready to collapse."

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading "Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.

leadernounUS /ˈliːdər/

a person who rules or guides or inspires others

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

maddernounUS /ˈmædər/

Eurasian herb having small yellow flowers and red roots formerly an important source of the dye alizarin

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "The white one is ready to collapse."

peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

racedverbUS /reɪst/

past form of “race” — move hurridly

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading "The white one is ready to collapse."

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

soundedverbUS /ˈsaʊndɪd/

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

speedverbUS /spiːd/

move hurridly

From this reading She certainly had no idea of decreasing her speed--but raced on as before.

strengthnounUS /streŋkθ/

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

TellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "The white one is ready to collapse."

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading "The white one is ready to collapse."

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "Akka, Akka!" again cried those who flew last.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Tell him that he who has not the strength to fly with the flock, can go back home!" cried the leader.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Can't you let me fly in peace?" asked the leader, and she sounded even madder than before.

Chapter 2 of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf holds 420 sentences, grouped into 84 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 2 of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils contain?

Chapter 2 holds 420 sentences of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 420 sentences, grouped into 84 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 2 of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Wonderful Adventures of Nils

Common questions about reading The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils?

Yes. All 8624 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #10935 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #10935, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Wonderful Adventures of Nils take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1725 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Wonderful Adventures of Nils section by section

How to work through The Wonderful Adventures of Nils section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils 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 Wonderful Adventures of Nils

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Thumbietot
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bears
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Flood
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dunfin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.