| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from 1984 by George Orwell: He halted and looked for the third time at his wrist-watch.
'It is almost time for you to leave, comrade,' he said to Julia. 'Wait.
The decanter is still half full.'
He filled the glasses and raised his own glass by the stem.
'What shall it be this time?' he said, still with the same faint
suggestion of irony. 'To the confusion of the Thought Police? To the
death of Big Brother? To humanity? To the future?'
'To the past,' said Winston.
'The past is more important,' agreed O'Brien gravely.
They emptied their glasses, and a moment later Julia stood up to go.
O'Brien took a small box from the top of a cabinet and handed her a flat
1984 |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: reception of Captain Dalgetty, was a long gallery, decorated with
tapestry and family portraits, and having a vaulted ceiling of
open wood-work, the extreme projections of the beams being richly
carved and gilded. The gallery was lighted by long lanceolated
Gothic casements, divided by heavy shafts, and filled with
painted glass, where the sunbeams glimmered dimly through boars'-
heads, and galleys, and batons, and swords, armorial bearings of
the powerful house of Argyle, and emblems of the high hereditary
offices of Justiciary of Scotland, and Master of the Royal
Household, which they long enjoyed. At the upper end of this
magnificent gallery stood the Marquis himself, the centre of a
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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 Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: And so it was that I bolted into the chamber full into
the midst of a dozen nobles of the court of Salensus Oll.
They were passing through on their way to the outside world
along the corridors we had just traversed.
At sight of us they halted in their tracks, and then an ugly
smile overspread the features of their leader.
"The author of all our misfortunes!" he cried, pointing at me.
"We shall have the satisfaction of a partial vengeance at least
when we leave behind us here the dead and mutilated corpses of the
The Warlord of Mars |
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 An International Episode by Henry James: and she was trying to adapt her conversation. The others were scattering
themselves near the rocks; Mrs. Westgate had charge of Percy Beaumont.
"Very jolly place, isn't it?" said Lord Lambeth.
"It's a very jolly place to sit."
"Very charming," said the young girl. "I often sit here;
there are all kinds of cozy corners--as if they had been
made on purpose."
"Ah! I suppose you have had some of them made," said the young man.
Miss Alden looked at him a moment. "Oh no, we have had nothing made.
It's pure nature."
"I should think you would have a few little benches--rustic seats
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