ɐ skˈuːlbɔɪ, mˈɛɹɪəs, ɪz toːɹmˈɛntᵻd θɹuːˈaʊt ðə fˈɜːst hˈæf ʌvðə nˈɑːvəl baɪ hɪz skəlˈæstɪk ɪnɐbˈɪləɾi, ænd dˈʊɹɹɪŋ hɪz fˈaɪnəl ˈɪlnəs kəntˈɪnjuːz tə mˈɜːmɚ ɹˈoʊt fɹˈeɪzᵻz, hɪz lˈæst wˈɜːdz bˌiːɪŋ mˈɛnsɚ ɹˈɑːtʌndə.
A schoolboy, Marius, is tormented throughout the first half of the novel by his scholastic inability, and during his final illness continues to murmur rote phrases, his last words being Mensa rotunda.