| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Awakening & Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin: already undressed, that she did not feel quite well, but perhaps
she would go over to the house later. She started to dress again,
and got as far advanced as to remove her peignoir. But
changing her mind once more she resumed the peignoir, and went
outside and sat down before her door. She was overheated and
irritable, and fanned herself energetically for a while. Madame
Ratignolle came down to discover what was the matter.
"All that noise and confusion at the table must have upset
me," replied Edna, "and moreover, I hate shocks and surprises.
The idea of Robert starting off in such a ridiculously sudden
and dramatic way! As if it were a matter of life and death!
Awakening & Selected Short Stories |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Virginian by Owen Wister: me to do that has to be done and Judge Henry needs more than two
eyes just now. I could not think much of myself if I left him for
my own wishes.
But the days will be warmer when I come. We will not have to quit
by five, and we can get off and sit too. We could not sit now
unless for a very short while. If I know when I can come I will
try to let you know, but I think it will be this way. I think you
will just see me coming for I have things to do of an unsure
nature and a good number of such. Do not believe reports about
Indians. They are started by editors to keep the soldiers in the
country. The friends of the editors get the hay and beef
The Virginian |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Horse's Tale by Mark Twain: she offered him all the doughnuts she had, which was two, and he
flung them down; she offered him half a paper of pins, worth forty
ravens, and he made a mouth at her and jabbed one of them in the
raven's back. That was the limit, you know. It called for the
other twin. Her eyes blazed up, and she jumped for him like a
wild-cat, and when she was done with him she was rags and he wasn't
anything but an allegory. That was most undoubtedly the other
twin, you see, coming to the front. No, sir; don't tell ME he
ain't in there. I've seen him with my own eyes - and plenty of
times, at that."
"Allegory? What is an allegory?"
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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 Tales of the Klondyke by Jack London: the Five Fingers, Windy Arm, Caribou Crossing, Linderman, the
Chilcoot and Dyea.
On the morning after passing Eagle, they rose early. This was
their last camp, and they were now to part. Fortune's heart was
light. There was a promise of spring in the land, and the days
were growing longer. The way was passing into Canadian territory.
Liberty was at hand, the sun was returning, and each day saw him
nearer to the Great Outside. The world was big, and he could once
again paint his future in royal red. He whistled about the
breakfast and hummed snatches of light song while Uri put the dogs
in harness and packed up. But when all was ready, Fortune's feet
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