| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy: he had been one of the chief stimulants for many years.
During the day he had bought a new tool-basket, cleaned up
his old hay-knife and wimble, set himself up in fresh
leggings, kneenaps and corduroys, and in other ways
gone back to the working clothes of his young manhood,
discarding for ever the shabby-genteel suit of cloth and
rusty silk hat that since his decline had characterized him
in the Casterbridge street as a man who had seen better
days.
He went secretly and alone, not a soul of the many who had
known him being aware of his departure. Elizabeth-Jane
 The Mayor of Casterbridge |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Vision Splendid by William MacLeod Raine: The young man sat up. "You're not seriously telling me that you
think Jeff is successful as compared with Joe Powers?"
"Yes. In my opinion he is the most successful man I ever met."
James was annoyed. "I expect you have a monopoly in that opinion,
Miss Frome--unless Jeff shares it."
"He doesn't."
The lawyer laughed irritably. "No, I shouldn't think he would." He
added a moment later: "I don't suppose Jeff is worth a hundred
dollars."
"Probably not."
"And Joe Powers is worth a hundred millions."
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