Reading and Decoding English 4

Letter 1.4 Expeditions

If you know people who have Dyslexia, help them learn to read starting with this column. It takes patiences to teach them the individual sounds.

This is an excerpt from Title: Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) Shelle

Siks yearz hav passd sins I rezolvd on mi prezent undertaking. I kan, even nou, remember the ouer from hwich I dedikated miself too this grat enterpriz. I komensd bi a-nyoo-ring mi bode too hardship. I akompaned the hwal-fisherz on several ekspedishons too the North Se; I voluntarile endoord kold, famin, thirst, and want ov slep; I often workd harder than the komon salorz dooring the da and devoted my nits too the stude ov mathmatiks, the the-re ov medisin, and thoz branchez ov fezikal siens from hwich a naval advenchurer mit deriv the gratest praktikal advantej. Twis I akchooale hird miself as an under-mat in a Grenland hwaler, and akwited miself too admiraton. I must on I felt a litel proud hwen my captan oferd me the sekcond dignite in the vessel and entretd me too reman with the gratest ernestnes, so valyoobel did he konsider mi servisez.

And nou, dear Margaret, doo I not dezerv too akomplish som grat purpos? Mi lif mit hav ben pasd in ez and lugzhure, but I preferd glore too evere entisment that welth plasd in mi path. Oh, that sum enkurajing vois wood anser in the afirmativ! Mi kurej and my rezolooshon iz firm; but mi hops flukchuat, and my spirits ar often depresd. I am about too prosed on a long and difikult voiej, the emergensez ov hwich wil demand al mi fortityood: I am rekwird not onle too raz the spirits ov otherz, but somtimz too sustan mi on, hwen thirz ar faling.

Letter 1.4 Expeditions

Six years have passed since I resolved on my present undertaking. I can, even now, remember the hour from which I dedicated myself to this great enterprise. I commenced by inuring my body to hardship. I accompanied the whale-fishers on several expeditions to the North Sea; I voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst, and want of sleep; I often worked harder than the common sailors during the day and devoted my nights to the study of mathematics, the theory of medicine, and those branches of physical science from which a naval adventurer might derive the greatest practical advantage. Twice I actually hired myself as an under-mate in a Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself to admiration. I must own I felt a little proud when my captain offered me the second dignity in the vessel and entreated me to remain with the greatest earnestness, so valuable did he consider my services.

And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose? My life might have been passed in ease and luxury, but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path. Oh, that some encouraging voice would answer in the affirmative! My courage and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are often depressed. I am about to proceed on a long and difficult voyage, the emergencies of which will demand all my fortitude: I am required not only to raise the spirits of others, but sometimes to sustain my own, when theirs are failing.

---

FEATURED DOWNLOAD: If you would like an infographic on how to read books and watch films more reflectively, CLICK HERE.