| 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: Art could go no farther.
The acrobats left him breathless. They were dazzling young
men with beautifully parted hair, continually making
graceful gestures to the audience. In one of them the
dentist fancied he saw a strong resemblance to the boy who
had tormented the intoxicated lodger and who had turned such
marvellous somersaults. Trina could not bear to watch their
antics. She turned away her head with a little shudder.
"It always makes me sick," she explained.
The beautiful young lady, "The Society Contralto," in
evening dress, who sang the sentimental songs, and carried
McTeague |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Dunwich Horror by H. P. Lovecraft: folks hereabouts. Lavinny's read some, an' has seed some things
the most o' ye only tell abaout. I calc'late her man is as good
a husban' as ye kin find this side of Aylesbury; an' ef ye knowed
as much abaout the hills as I dew, ye wouldn't ast no better church
weddin' nor her'n. Let me tell ye suthin - some day yew folks'll
hear a child o' Lavinny's a-callin' its father's name on the top
o' Sentinel Hill!'
The only person who saw Wilbur during the
first month of his life were old Zechariah Whateley, of the undecayed
Whateleys, and Earl Sawyer's common-law wife, Mamie Bishop. Mamie's
visit was frankly one of curiosity, and her subsequent tales did
The Dunwich Horror |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson: Paused, and fashioned a song of farewell to glory and strife.
HOUSE OF MINE (IT WENT), HOUSE UPON THE SEA,
BELOV'D OF ALL MY FATHERS, MORE BELOV'D BY ME!
VALE OF THE STRONG HONOURA, DEEP RAVINE OF PAI,
AGAIN IN YOUR WOODY SUMMITS I HEAR THE TRADE-WIND CRY.
HOUSE OF MINE, IN YOUR WALLS, STRONG SOUNDS THE SEA,
OF ALL SOUNDS ON EARTH, DEAREST SOUND TO ME.
I HAVE HEARD THE APPLAUSE OF MEN, I HAVE HEARD IT ARISE AND DIE:
SWEETER NOW IN MY HOUSE I HEAR THE TRADE-WIND CRY.
These were the words of his singing, other the thought of his heart;
For secret desire of glory vexed him, dwelling apart.
Ballads |
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 Fables by Robert Louis Stevenson: hour, after the manner of simple men.
It befell that she walked one day by the beach of the sea, when it
was autumn, and the wind blew from the place of rains; and upon the
one hand of her the sea beat, and upon the other the dead leaves
ran. This was the loneliest beach between two seas, and strange
things had been done there in the ancient ages. Now the King's
daughter was aware of a crone that sat upon the beach. The sea
foam ran to her feet, and the dead leaves swarmed about her back,
and the rags blew about her face in the blowing of the wind.
"Now," said the King's daughter, and she named a holy name, "this
is the most unhappy old crone between two seas."
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