| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Off on a Comet by Jules Verne: of tracing-paper, he began to draw, with red and blue crayons,
a variety of colored lines, which could hardly be supposed to have
much connection with a topographical survey. In truth, his character
of staff-officer was now entirely absorbed in that of Gascon poet.
Whether he imagined that the compasses would bestow upon his verses
the measure of a mathematical accuracy, or whether he fancied
that the parti-colored lines would lend variety to his rhythm,
it is impossible to determine; be that as it may, he was devoting
all his energies to the compilation of his rondo, and supremely
difficult he found the task.
"Hang it!" he ejaculated, "whatever induced me to choose this meter?
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Some Reminiscences by Joseph Conrad: conviction, these two by their sound alone have set whole nations
in motion and upheaved the dry, hard ground on which rests our
whole social fabric. There's "virtue" for you if you like!. . .
Of course the accent must be attended to. The right accent.
That's very important. The capacious lung, the thundering or the
tender vocal chords. Don't talk to me of your Archimedes' lever.
He was an absent-minded person with a mathematical imagination.
Mathematics command all my respect, but I have no use for
engines. Give me the right word and the right accent and I will
move the world.
What a dream--for a writer! Because written words have their
Some Reminiscences |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: earnestly regretting that any necessity should rob him
even for an hour of Miss Morland's company, and anxiously
recommending the study of her comfort and amusement
to his children as their chief object in his absence.
His departure gave Catherine the first experimental conviction
that a loss may be sometimes a gain. The happiness with
which their time now passed, every employment voluntary,
every laugh indulged, every meal a scene of ease and
good humour, walking where they liked and when they liked,
their hours, pleasures, and fatigues at their own command,
made her thoroughly sensible of the restraint which the
Northanger Abbey |
