| 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: white rails. And young Powell turned his eyes to windward with a
catch in his breath.
The strange ship, a darker shape in the night, did not seem to be
moving onwards but only to grow more distinct right abeam, staring
at the Ferndale with one green and one red eye which swayed and
tossed as if they belonged to the restless head of some invisible
monster ambushed in the night amongst the waves. A moment, long
like eternity, elapsed, and, suddenly, the monster which seemed to
take to itself the shape of a mountain shut its green eye without as
much as a preparatory wink.
Mr. Powell drew a free breath. "All right now," said Captain
Chance |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: floor at night, gritting her teeth at the slowness with which he
took hints and encouragements, praying that no untimely letter from
Suellen would reach him and ruin her plans. She thanked God that
her sister was the poorest of correspondents, delighting to receive
letters and disliking to write them. But there was always a
chance, always a chance, she thought in the long night hours as she
padded back and forth across the cold floor of her bedroom, with
Ellen's faded shawl clutched about her nightdress. Frank did not
know she had received a laconic letter from Will, relating that
Jonas Wilkerson had paid another call at Tara and, finding her gone
to Atlanta, had stormed about until Will and Ashley threw him
Gone With the Wind |
