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The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1
The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 is here in full — 474 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/94 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.
The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.
Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....
Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
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 Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 is here in full — 474 sentences across 95 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/94 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.
Line 2
The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.
Line 3
Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....
Line 4
Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.
/ɪkˈsept fɔːr ˈfʊtnoʊts ənd ˌɪləˈstreɪʃənz ɔːl ˈbrækəts ɑːr ɪn ðə ərˈɪdʒənəl/
Line 5
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

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.

advertising noun US /ˈædvərtaɪzɪŋ/

a public promotion of some product or service

From this reading “This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.”

brackets noun US /ˈbrækəts/

plural of “bracket” — a category falling within certain defined limits

From this reading “Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.”

Cambridge noun US /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/

a university in England

From this reading “This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.”

footnotes noun US /ˈfʊtnoʊts/

plural of “footnote” — a printed note placed below the text on a printed page

From this reading “Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.”

illustrations noun US /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃənz/

plural of “illustration” — artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading “Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.”

introductory adjective US /ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri/

serving to open or begin

From this reading “This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.”

Numerals noun US /ˈnuːmərəlz/

plural of “numeral” — a symbol used to represent a number

From this reading “Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....”

publisher's noun US /ˈpʌblɪʃərz/

possessive form of “publisher” — a firm in the publishing business

From this reading “This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.”

All words in this reading · 52

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.

1

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

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

16

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

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

1863

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

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

2

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

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

44

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

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

advertisingnounUS /ˈædvərtaɪzɪŋ/

a public promotion of some product or service

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

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 Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

bracketsnounUS /ˈbrækəts/

plural of “bracket” — a category falling within certain defined limits

From this reading Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.

CambridgenounUS /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/

a university in England

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

containsverbUS /kənˈteɪnz/

third-person singular of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

e-text

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

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

editionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/

the form in which a text (especially a printed book) is published

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

ExceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.

FnounUS /ef/

a degree on the Fahrenheit scale of temperature

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

footnotesnounUS /ˈfʊtnoʊts/

plural of “footnote” — a printed note placed below the text on a printed page

From this reading Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.

free-standing

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

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

illustrationsnounUS /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃənz/

plural of “illustration” — artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

From this reading Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.

inline

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

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

introductoryadjectiveUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri/

serving to open or begin

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

materialadjectiveUS /məˈtɪriəl/

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

nine-volume

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

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

NumeralsnounUS /ˈnuːmərəlz/

plural of “numeral” — a symbol used to represent a number

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

originaladjectiveUS /ərˈɪdʒənəl/

preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed

From this reading Except for footnotes and illustrations, all brackets are in the original.

pagesnounUS /ˈpeɪdʒəz/

plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

playsnounUS /pleɪz/

plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

producedverbUS /prəˈduːst/

past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

publisher'snounUS /ˈpʌblɪʃərz/

possessive form of “publisher” — a firm in the publishing business

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

QnounUS /kjuː/

the 17th letter of the Roman alphabet

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

ShakespearenounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːr/

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

shownverbUS /ʃoʊn/

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

subscripts

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

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

VolumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading This e-text contains the introductory material (44 pages) and the publisher's advertising (16 pages) from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

WILLIAM

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

From this reading WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The five plays from this volume, with their notes, will each be produced as a free-standing e-text.

writtenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtən/

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading Numerals written as subscripts are shown inline as F1, F2, Q1....

Chapter 1 of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 by William Shakespeare holds 474 sentences, grouped into 95 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 1 of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 contain?

Chapter 1 holds 474 sentences of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1, unabridged, divided into 95 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 by William Shakespeare exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 474 sentences, grouped into 95 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 Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1?

Work through the 95 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 95 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 Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1

Common questions about reading The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 by William Shakespeare on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1?

Yes. All 916 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23041 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #23041, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 take to read?

About 76 minutes of reading across 184 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 section by section

How to work through The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 2 chapters of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1 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 Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

E-text
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Contains
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Introductory
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Material
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Works of William Shakespeare — Vol. 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.