Chapter II
Stave II: The First of the Three Spirits
asked Scrooge. "I am!" The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance. "Who, and what are you?"
A Christmas Carol
Chapter II · Stave II: The First of the Three Spirits
STAVE II: THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS WHEN Scrooge awoke, it was so dark, that looking out of bed, he could scarcely distinguish the transparent window from the opaque walls of his chamber.
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
asked
Scrooge.
"I
am!"
The
voice
was
soft
and
gentle.
Singularly
low,
as
if
instead
of
being
so
close
beside
him,
it
were
at
a
distance.
"Who,
and
what
are
you?"
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
A Christmas Carol
Chapter II · Stave II: The First of the Three Spirits
Reading 11/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 51–55
Line 1
asked
Scrooge.
Line 2
"I
am!"
/aɪ æm/
Line 3
The
voice
was
soft
and
gentle.
Line 4
Singularly
low,
as
if
instead
of
being
so
close
beside
him,
it
were
at
a
distance.
Line 5
"Who,
and
what
are
you?"
/huː ənd wʌt ɑːr juː/
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
voice
noun
US /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “The voice was soft and gentle.”
Collocations
asked ScroogeA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
Scrooge IA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 30
Every word is available to listen to. 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 Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am!"
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The voice was soft and gentle.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Who, and what are you?"
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading asked Scrooge.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice was soft and gentle.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am!"
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
Scrooge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading asked Scrooge.
Singularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The voice was soft and gentle.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The voice was soft and gentle.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The voice was soft and gentle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The voice was soft and gentle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Who, and what are you?"
WhopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading "Who, and what are you?"
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Who, and what are you?"
Chapter Quiz
What is the central narrative or theme conveyed in this section of Stave II: The First of the Three Spirits?
Which core linguistic virtue or character attribute is emphasized in this passage?
According to the text: "STAVE II: THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS...", what tone does the author establish?
Shadowing Practice
Narrator:
STAVE II: THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS
Narrator:
"Was I apprenticed here!"