The Doll by Bolesław Prus – Volume I, Chapter 8 | B2 English Audiobook with Text 🎧

🎧 Practise this chapter interactively – speaking, shadowing and vocabulary exercises – in our free web app: 👉 https://zagrosze.com/english Episode 8 of "The Doll" (Lalka), the great Polish novel by Bolesław Prus (1890), retold in natural B2 (Upper-Intermediate) English. Listen, read the text on screen and follow the red line under every word. 📖 Volume I, Chapter 8: "Meditations" Wokulski walks away from his newly finished shop, feeling empty and bitter after a remark by the shop assistant Mraczewski about a little note and a meeting. Wandering through the poor streets by the Vistula, he remembers his hard life, the day he first saw Miss Izabela in the theatre, and his talk with Doctor Szuman before he left for Bulgaria. He meets the carter Wysocki, whose horse has died, and gives him ten roubles and a job, and for the first time he feels pity for everyone who suffers, yet he says he will not give up his own happiness. Back in the shop he watches a strange scene between Baron Krzeszowski and his wife, and that evening he dismisses Mraczewski. The next day the Baron and the Baroness each come to speak for the young man, but Wokulski will not take him back. Will Wokulski's new pity change anything, or will his love for Izabela win? ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Wokulski leaves the shop 4:08 The poor district by the river 5:41 Wokulski's life story 7:00 First sight of Izabela 11:13 Doctor Szuman's advice 16:53 Meeting the carter Wysocki 18:50 Ten roubles for the holidays 21:05 The rubbish heap by the Vistula 24:53 The butterfly and the worm 27:40 New pity for all who suffer 32:58 Strange customers in the shop 44:26 Mraczewski is dismissed 46:00 The Baron and Baroness return 🔑 Key Vocabulary (B2) • embankment – a raised wall of earth built beside a river • hut – a small, simple house • moss – a soft green plant that grows on roofs and stones • labourer – a person who does hard physical work • charity – help given to poor people • apathy – a lack of interest or feeling • rubbish – things that people throw away • dunghill – a pile of waste and dirt • melancholy – a deep, quiet sadness • coquetry – playful behaviour to attract attention • barge – a flat boat for carrying goods on a river • caterpillar – a small, soft animal that becomes a butterfly • burrow – a hole in the ground where an animal lives • haberdashery – small things for sewing, such as buttons • bachelor – a man who has never married • microscope – an instrument that makes tiny things look bigger • banister – the rail beside a staircase • contractor – a person who supplies goods or work for pay • haggle – to argue about the price of something • pince-nez – glasses held on the nose without arms • cufflinks – small jewels that fasten the cuffs of a shirt • inkstand – a holder for ink and pens on a desk • dismissal – being told to leave your job • reference – a letter that praises you for a new employer • carter – a man who carries goods in a cart • scoundrel – a dishonest, bad man • eccentric – a person who behaves in a strange way • flirt – to behave as if you are attracted to someone 💬 Useful phrases • "Marry, it is the only cure for your disease." – Doctor Szuman • "Say that you took it from me on account." – Mr Wokulski • "I cannot give her up" – Mr Wokulski • "I am not Christ, to sacrifice myself for all mankind." – Mr Wokulski • "Because you no longer have a place with me." – Mr Wokulski 🚀 How to learn with this episode 1. Watch once and just enjoy the story. 2. Watch again and read along – notice the past perfect (had hungered, had won, had returned) and how it tells us what happened earlier 3. Stop after a sentence and repeat it aloud (shadowing). 4. Do the exercises for this chapter at https://zagrosze.com/english 📚 About the series • Book: The Doll (Lalka) by Bolesław Prus, 1890 – a Polish classic (public domain) • This episode: Volume I, Chapter 8 (B2) – watch the chapters in order in our playlist! • Level: CEFR B2 (Upper-Intermediate) – natural English, richer vocabulary • Narration: AI-generated voice (Kokoro TTS) chosen for clear pronunciation; text adapted for learners 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss Chapter 9 – make English part of your daily routine! #LearnEnglish #EnglishAudiobook #B2English #GradedReader #LearnEnglishThroughStories #EnglishListening #Shadowing #TheDoll #BolesławPrus