| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Secret Places of the Heart by H. G. Wells: "And I believe in it, when I talk of it to you."
Section 9
Sir Richmond was stirred very deeply by Miss Grammont's
confidences. His dispute with Dr. Martineau was present in
his mind, so that he did not want to make love to her. But he
was extremely anxious to express his vivid sense of the value
of her friendship. And while he hesitated over this difficult
and unfamiliar task she began to talk again of herself, and
in such a way as to give a new turn to Sir Richmond's
thoughts.
"Perhaps I ought to tell you a little more about myself," she
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: that supple figure straight as an arrow, so graceful and free in
its walk, behind those soft eyes that spoke of nothing but of
unconscious resignation, there slept all feelings and all
passions, all hopes and all fears, the curse of life and the
consolation of death. And she knew nothing of it all. She lived
like the tall palms amongst whom she was passing now, seeking the
light, desiring the sunshine, fearing the storm, unconscious of
either. The slave had no hope, and knew of no change. She knew
of no other sky, no other water, no other forest, no other world,
no other life. She had no wish, no hope, no love, no fear except
of a blow, and no vivid feeling but that of occasional hunger,
Almayer's Folly |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Animal Farm by George Orwell: high-pitched whimper. Immediately the dogs bounded forward, seized four of
the pigs by the ear and dragged them, squealing with pain and terror, to
Napoleon's feet. The pigs' ears were bleeding, the dogs had tasted blood,
and for a few moments they appeared to go quite mad. To the amazement of
everybody, three of them flung themselves upon Boxer. Boxer saw them
coming and put out his great hoof, caught a dog in mid-air, and pinned
him to the ground. The dog shrieked for mercy and the other two fled with
their tails between their legs. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether
he should crush the dog to death or let it go. Napoleon appeared to change
countenance, and sharply ordered Boxer to let the dog go, whereat Boxer
lifted his hoof, and the dog slunk away, bruised and howling.
Animal Farm |
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 The People That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs: many of her queries and so filled with wonder was she at the
things I told her of the world beyond the lofty barriers of
Caspak; not once did she seem to doubt me, however marvelous my
statements must have seemed; and doubtless they were the cause
of marvel to Ajor, who before had never dreamed that any life
existed beyond Caspak and the life she knew.
Artless though many of her questions were, they evidenced a
keen intellect and a shrewdness which seemed far beyond her
years of her experience. Altogether I was finding my little
savage a mighty interesting and companionable person, and I
often thanked the kind fate that directed the crossing of
The People That Time Forgot |
