| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Animal Farm by George Orwell: supervision and organisation of the farm. Much of this work was of a kind
that the other animals were too ignorant to understand. For example,
Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day
upon mysterious things called "files," "reports," "minutes," and
"memoranda". These were large sheets of paper which had to be closely
covered with writing, and as soon as they were so covered, they were burnt
in the furnace. This was of the highest importance for the welfare of the
farm, Squealer said. But still, neither pigs nor dogs produced any food by
their own labour; and there were very many of them, and their appetites
were always good.
As for the others, their life, so far as they knew, was as it had always
Animal Farm |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Ebb-Tide by Stevenson & Osbourne: 'I have indeed,' said Herrick.
'Yes, I know,' said the captain, 'you think so. But no man's
got a family till he's got children. It's only the kids count.
There's something about the little shavers ... I can't talk of
them. And if you thought a cent about this father that I hear
you talk of, or that sweetheart you were writing to this morning,
you would feel like me. You would say, What matters laws, and
God, and that? My folks are hard up, I belong to them, I'll get
them bread, or, by God! I'll get them wealth, if I have to burn
down London for it. That's what you would say. And I'll tell
you more: your heart is saying so this living minute. I can see
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from When the Sleeper Wakes by H. G. Wells: gesticulated towards the hall. He perceived what had
happened to the uproar. The whole mass of people
was chanting together. It was not simply a song, the
voices were gathered together and upborne by a torrent
of instrumental music, music like the music of
an organ, a woven texture of sounds, full of trumpets,
full of flaunting banners, full of the march and
pageantry of opening war. And the feet of the people
were beating time--tramp, tramp.
He was urged towards the door. He obeyed
mechanically. The strength of that chant took hold
When the Sleeper Wakes |
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 Baby Mine by Margaret Mayo: Aggie across the footboard. "Tell him that Jimmy hasn't got here
yet."
"Yes," agreed Jimmy, "tell him I haven't got here yet."
Aggie nodded wisely and returned to the 'phone. "Hello," she
called pleasantly; then proceeded to explain. "Mr. Jinks hasn't
got here yet." There was a pause, then she added in her most
conciliatory tone, "I'll tell him what you say when he comes in."
Another pause, and she hung up the receiver with a most gracious
good- bye and turned to the others with increasing misgivings.
"He says he won't be responsible for that mother much
longer--she's half-crazy."
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