| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Herland by Charlotte Gilman: We three had a chance to join a big scientific expedition. They
needed a doctor, and that gave Jeff an excuse for dropping his just
opening practice; they needed Terry's experience, his machine,
and his money; and as for me, I got in through Terry's influence.
The expedition was up among the thousand tributaries and
enormous hinterland of a great river, up where the maps had to
be made, savage dialects studied, and all manner of strange flora
and fauna expected.
But this story is not about that expedition. That was only the
merest starter for ours.
My interest was first roused by talk among our guides. I'm
Herland |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: wild dogs are on it, with one long, smooth spring, as though unwounded and
unhurt, he turned and disappeared into the grass. It closed behind him;
but as he went the twigs and leaves cracked under his tread.
The Captain threw back the door of his tent. "Who is there?" he cried.
Peter Halket stood below the tree with the knife in his hand.
The noise roused the whole camp: the men on guard came running; guns were
fired: and the half-sleeping men came rushing, grasping their weapons.
There was a sound of firing at the little tree; and the cry went round the
camp, "The Mashonas are releasing the spy!"
When the men got to the Captain's tent, they saw that the nigger was gone;
and Peter Halket was lying on his face at the foot of the tree; with his
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