The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: dead man's state-room. The captain nodded and let him go; and then
Powell crept over, hooked the door open and crept back with fearful
glances towards Mrs. Anthony's cabin. They stooped over the corpse.
Captain Anthony lifted up the shoulders.
Mr. Powell shuddered. "I'll never forget that interminable journey
across the saloon, step by step, holding our breath. For part of
the way the drawn half of the curtain concealed us from view had
Mrs. Anthony opened her door; but I didn't draw a free breath till
after we laid the body down on the swinging cot. The reflection of
the saloon light left most of the cabin in the shadow. Mr. Smith's
rigid, extended body looked shadowy too, shadowy and alive. You
 Chance |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: GWENDOLEN. Then that is all quite settled, is it not?
CECILY. I hope so. [A pause. They both sit down together.]
GWENDOLEN. Perhaps this might be a favourable opportunity for my
mentioning who I am. My father is Lord Bracknell. You have never
heard of papa, I suppose?
CECILY. I don't think so.
GWENDOLEN. Outside the family circle, papa, I am glad to say, is
entirely unknown. I think that is quite as it should be. The home
seems to me to be the proper sphere for the man. And certainly
once a man begins to neglect his domestic duties he becomes
painfully effeminate, does he not? And I don't like that. It
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