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The Metamorphosis
The Metamorphosis

Chapter I · Act 01: The Discourse of The Metamorphosis — The Origin & The Dilemma

Act 01: The Discourse of The Metamorphosis — The Origin & The Dilemma, section 1: One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head
Context Illustration Reading 1/77 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.
He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.
His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.
“What’s happened to me?” he thought.
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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 Metamorphosis

Chapter I · Act 01: The Discourse of The Metamorphosis — The Origin & The Dilemma

Reading 1/77 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.
Line 2
He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
Line 3
The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.
Line 4
His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.
Line 5
“What’s happened to me?” he thought.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.”

Divided noun US /ˈdivided/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““What’s happened to me?” he thought.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

able

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

any

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

arches

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

armour-like

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

back

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

bed

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

bedding

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

belly

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

brown

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

compared

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

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

cover

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

dividednounUS /ˈdivided/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

domed

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

dreams

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

Gregor

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

happened

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

From this reading “What’s happened to me?” he thought.

hardly

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

head

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

helplessly

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

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

horrible

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

lay

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

legs

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

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

lifted

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

many

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

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “What’s happened to me?” he thought.

moment

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

off

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

pitifully

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

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

ready

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

Samsa

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

sections

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

see

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

size

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

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

slide

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

slightly

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

stiff

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

From this reading He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What’s happened to me?” he thought.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

transformed

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

troubled

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

vermin

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

waved

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

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

What's

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

From this reading “What’s happened to me?” he thought.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked.

woke

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

From this reading One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

Chapter Quiz

What is the central philosophical inquiry and narrative progression in 'Act 01: The Discourse of The Metamorphosis — The Origin & The Dilemma'?

How does the prose style reflect classical academic excellence?

What primary language acquisition value does this text offer advanced English scholars?