| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass: on one common bed,--the cold, damp floor,--each
covering himself or herself with their miserable
blankets; and here they sleep till they are summoned
to the field by the driver's horn. At the sound of
this, all must rise, and be off to the field. There
must be no halting; every one must be at his or
her post; and woe betides them who hear not this
morning summons to the field; for if they are not
awakened by the sense of hearing, they are by the
sense of feeling: no age nor sex finds any favor.
Mr. Severe, the overseer, used to stand by the door
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Blix by Frank Norris: you don't need to tell me; I know--I've known it--oh, for weeks!"
"You know--know--know what?" he exclaimed, breathless.
"That you have been pretending that you did not love me. I know
that you do love me--I know you have been trying to keep it from
me for fear it would spoil our good times, and because we had made
up our minds to be chums, and have 'no more foolishness.' Once--in
those days when we first knew each other--I knew you did not love
me when you said you did; but now, since--oh, since that afternoon
in the Chinese restaurant, remember?--I've known that you did love
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