| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: place in me; my health, which had hitherto declined, was now much
restored; and my spirits, when unchecked by the memory of my
unhappy promise, rose proportionably. My father saw this change
with pleasure, and he turned his thoughts towards the best method
of eradicating the remains of my melancholy, which every now and
then would return by fits, and with a devouring blackness overcast
the approaching sunshine. At these moments I took refuge in the
most perfect solitude. I passed whole days on the lake alone in a
little boat, watching the clouds and listening to the rippling of
the waves, silent and listless. But the fresh air and bright sun
seldom failed to restore me to some degree of composure, and on my
Frankenstein |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Options by O. Henry: come inside the ropes, I got as weak as ginger-ale.
"Of course, it wasn't long till I couldn't get no backers, and I
didn't have any more chances to fight a professional--or many
amateurs, either. But lemme tell you--I was as good as most men
inside the ring or out. It was just that dumb, dead feeling I had
when I was up against a regular that always done me up.
"Well, sir, after I had got out of the business, I got a mighty grouch
on. I used to go round town licking private citizens and all kinds of
unprofessionals just to please myself. I'd lick cops in dark streets
and car-conductors and cab-drivers and draymen whenever I could start
a row with 'em. It didn't make any difference how big they were, or
Options |
