| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Faraday as a Discoverer by John Tyndall: and pleasure on me; and then as one able to convey the truth and
principle of those boundless fields of knowledge which concern
natural things to the young, untaught, and inquiring mind.
'You may imagine my delight when I came to know Mrs. Marcet
personally; how often I cast my thoughts backward, delighting to
connect the past and the present; how often, when sending a paper
to her as a thank-offering, I thought of my first instructress,
and such like thoughts will remain with me.
'I have some such thoughts even as regards your own father; who was,
I may say, the first who personally at Geneva, and afterwards by
correspondence, encouraged, and by that sustained me.'
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: under the water, and said to the Wizard: "They're getting frightened
over there on the island because they're both growing smaller every
minute. Just now, when I left them, both Trot and Cap'n Bill were
only about half their natural sizes."
"I think," said the Wizard reflectively, "that I'd better go to the
shore of the island, where I can talk to them and work to better
advantage. How did Trot and Cap'n Bill get to the island?"
"On a raft," answered the Glass Cat. "It's over there now on the beach."
"I suppose you're not strong enough to bring the raft to this side,
are you?"
"No; I couldn't move it an inch," said the Cat.
The Magic of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Rescue by Joseph Conrad: He looked at her fixedly. "You are not the first that believed in
me," he said.
Hassim, lounging with his back against the closed door, kept his
eye on him watchfully and Immada's dark and sorrowful eyes rested
on the face of the white woman. Mrs. Travers felt as though she
were engaged in a contest with them; in a struggle for the
possession of that man's strength and of that man's devotion.
When she looked up at Lingard she saw on his face--which should
have been impassive or exalted, the face of a stern leader or the
face of a pitiless dreamer--an expression of utter forgetfulness.
He seemed to be tasting the delight of some profound and amazing
The Rescue |
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 Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence: Paul was invited to dinner at Mr. Jordan's. Afterwards he said:
"Mother, I want an evening suit."
"Yes, I was afraid you would," she said. She was glad.
There was a moment or two of silence. "There's that one of William's,"
she continued, "that I know cost four pounds ten
and which he'd only worn three times."
"Should you like me to wear it, mother?" he asked.
"Yes. I think it would fit you--at least the coat. The trousers
would want shortening."
He went upstairs and put on the coat and vest. Coming down,
he looked strange in a flannel collar and a flannel shirt-front,
Sons and Lovers |
