| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from An Unsocial Socialist by George Bernard Shaw: successful rival, although it was plain from the very sound of
his voice that he did not--could not--love Gertrude. Only a poet
could do that. Trefusis was no poet, but a sordid brute unlikely
to inspire interest in anything more human than a public meeting,
much less in a woman, much less again in a woman so ethereal as
Gertrude. She was proud too, yet she had allowed the fellow to
insult her--had forgiven him for the sake of a few broad
compliments. Erskine grew angry and cynical. The situation did
not suit his poetry. Instead of being stricken to the heart with
a solemn sorrow, as a Patriot Martyr would have been under
similar circumstances, he felt slighted and ridiculous. He was
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: officer in charge. He's taking her up the river while
the great man is wallowing in the chair--perhaps asleep;
and if he is, that would not make it much worse either--
take my word for it."
He tried to thrust himself farther in. Massy, with
lowered forehead, one hand grasping the back of the
arm-chair, did not budge.
"You think, sir, that the man has got you tight in
his agreement . . ." Massy raised a heavy snarling
face at this . . . "Well, sir, one can't help hearing
of it on board. It's no secret. And it has been the
End of the Tether |
