| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from McTeague by Frank Norris: one hand, his pliers holding a pellet of sponge-gold in the
other. All at once he said, with the unreasoned simplicity
and directness of a child: "Listen here, Miss Trina, I like
you better than any one else; what's the matter with us
getting married?"
Trina sat up in the chair quickly, and then drew back from
him, frightened and bewildered.
"Will you? Will you?" said McTeague. "Say, Miss Trina,
will you?"
"What is it? What do you mean?" she cried, confusedly, her
words muffled beneath the rubber.
McTeague |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Silas Marner by George Eliot: you?"
Godfrey, sorely uncomfortable under this significant insistence
about Nancy, and afraid to think where it would end by the time his
father had set his usual hospitable example of drinking before and
after supper, saw no course open but to turn to Nancy and say, with
as little awkwardness as possible--
"No; I've not asked her yet, but I hope she'll consent--if
somebody else hasn't been before me."
"No, I've not engaged myself," said Nancy, quietly, though
blushingly. (If Mr. Godfrey founded any hopes on her consenting to
dance with him, he would soon be undeceived; but there was no need
Silas Marner |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Land of Footprints by Stewart Edward White: Sporting. Pick out your guns to suit yourself. You want a light
one and a heavy one.
When I came to send out my ammunition, I was forced again to take
the other fellow's experience. I was told by everybody that I
should bring plenty, that it was better to have too much than too
little, etc. I rather thought so myself, and accordingly shipped
a trifle over 1,500 rounds of small bore cartridges.
Unfortunately, I never got into the field with any of my numerous
advisers on this point, so cannot state their methods from
first-hand information. Inductive reasoning leads me to believe
that they consider it unsportsmanlike to shoot at a standing
|
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Emma by Jane Austen: only advantages she wants.--A man would always wish to give a woman
a better home than the one he takes her from; and he who can do it,
where there is no doubt of her regard, must, I think, be the happiest
of mortals.--Frank Churchill is, indeed, the favourite of fortune.
Every thing turns out for his good.--He meets with a young woman
at a watering-place, gains her affection, cannot even weary her
by negligent treatment--and had he and all his family sought round
the world for a perfect wife for him, they could not have found
her superior.--His aunt is in the way.--His aunt dies.--He has
only to speak.--His friends are eager to promote his happiness.--
He had used every body ill--and they are all delighted to forgive him.--
Emma |
