| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: the most opposite shades of character; and here I may be allowed
to enter into some details. The two or three main ideas which
constitute the basis of the social theory of the United States
were first combined in the Northern English colonies, more
generally denominated the States of New England. *e The
principles of New England spread at first to the neighboring
states; they then passed successively to the more distant ones;
and at length they imbued the whole Confederation. They now
extend their influence beyond its limits over the whole American
world. The civilization of New England has been like a beacon
lit upon a hill, which, after it has diffused its warmth around,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe: terrible noise on the shore, calling out, for God's sake, to bring
the boat in and come and help them, for they were all like to be
murdered; and at the same time I heard the fire of five muskets,
which was the number of guns they had, and that three times over;
for it seems the natives here were not so easily frightened with
guns as the savages were in America, where I had to do with them.
All this while, I knew not what was the matter, but rousing
immediately from sleep with the noise, I caused the boat to be
thrust in, and resolved with three fusees we had on board to land
and assist our men. We got the boat soon to the shore, but our men
were in too much haste; for being come to the shore, they plunged
Robinson Crusoe |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Night and Day by Virginia Woolf: relaxed her grasp; she looked anxiously at the faces of the passers-by
to see whether their eyes rested on her for a moment longer than was
natural, or with any curiosity. But having smoothed out her gloves,
and done what she could to look as usual, she forgot spectators, and
was once more given up to her desperate desire to find Ralph Denham.
It was a desire now--wild, irrational, unexplained, resembling
something felt in childhood. Once more she blamed herself bitterly for
her carelessness. But finding herself opposite the Tube station, she
pulled herself up and took counsel swiftly, as of old. It flashed upon
her that she would go at once to Mary Datchet, and ask her to give her
Ralph's address. The decision was a relief, not only in giving her a
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