| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: cottage of an old woman near the spot and endeavoured, but in vain,
to restore it to life. It appeared to be a handsome young man,
about five and twenty years of age. He had apparently been strangled,
for there was no sign of any violence except the black mark of fingers
on his neck.
The first part of this deposition did not in the least interest me,
but when the mark of the fingers was mentioned I remembered the murder
of my brother and felt myself extremely agitated; my limbs trembled,
and a mist came over my eyes, which obliged me to lean on a chair for support.
The magistrate observed me with a keen eye and of course drew an unfavourable
augury from my manner.
Frankenstein |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce: grotesque and horrible, their forms gigantic.
Suddenly he heard a sharp report and something struck the
water smartly within a few inches of his head, spattering his
face with spray. He heard a second report, and saw one of
the sentinels with his rifle at his shoulder, a light cloud
of blue smoke rising from the muzzle. The man in the water
saw the eye of the man on the bridge gazing into his own
through the sights of the rifle. He observed that it was a
gray eye and remembered having read that gray eyes were
keenest, and that all famous marksmen had them.
Nevertheless, this one had missed.
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: This was my dream; what it doth bode, God knows.
DUCHESS.
Tut, this was nothing but an argument
That he that breaks a stick of Gloster's grove
Shall lose his head for his presumption.
But list to me, my Humphrey, my sweet duke:
Methought I sat in seat of majesty
In the cathedral church of Westminster
And in that chair where kings and queens are crown'd,
Where Henry and Dame Margaret kneel'd to me
And on my head did set the diadem.
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