| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: I listened, I listened on the watch for the sentence, for the word,
that would give me the clue to the faint uneasiness inspired
by this narrative that seemed to shape itself without human
lips in the heavy night-air of the river.
". . . Yes--I let him run on," Marlow began again,
"and think what he pleased about the powers that were
behind me. I did! And there was nothing behind me!
There was nothing but that wretched, old, mangled steamboat
I was leaning against, while he talked fluently about `the
necessity for every man to get on.' `And when one comes
out here, you conceive, it is not to gaze at the moon.'
Heart of Darkness |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Distinguished Provincial at Paris by Honore de Balzac: Walter Scott. He was struck with the pains which Lucien had taken with
the style of this his first work, delighted with the strong contrasts
of character sanctioned by the epoch, and surprised at the spirited
imagination which a young writer always displays in the scheming of a
first plot--he had not been spoiled, thought old Daddy Doguereau. He
had made up his mind to give a thousand francs for The Archer of
Charles IX.; he would buy the copyright out and out, and bind Lucien
by an engagement for several books, but when he came to look at the
house, the old fox thought better of it.
"A young fellow that lives here has none but simple tastes," said he
to himself; "he is fond of study, fond of work; I need not give more
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: "It's not true."
"What's not true?"
"Oh--about my--not caring."
"Kate!" cried George, quite overcome with rapture. He fell over two chairs
getting to her; but he succeeded, and fell on his knees to kiss her hand.
"Foolish boy! It has been you all the time," whispered Kate, with her quiet
smile.
"Look here, Downs; come to the door. See there," said Heckewelder to Jim.
Somewhat surprised at Heckewelder's grave tone, Jim got up from the
supper-table and looked out of the door. He saw two tall Indians pacing to and
fro under the maples. It was still early twilight and light enough to see
The Spirit of the Border |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Dracula by Bram Stoker: When within a foot or two of the door, however, she stopped,
as if arrested by some irresistible force. Then she turned,
and her face was shown in the clear burst of moonlight and by
the lamp, which had now no quiver from Van Helsing's nerves.
Never did I see such baffled malice on a face, and never,
I trust, shall such ever be seen again by mortal eyes.
The beautiful color became livid, the eyes seemed to throw
out sparks of hell fire, the brows were wrinkled as though
the folds of flesh were the coils of Medusa's snakes,
and the lovely, blood-stained mouth grew to an open square,
as in the passion masks of the Greeks and Japanese.
Dracula |
