| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: long tables were grouped at one end, the remainder of the floor space
cleared for dancing. Oil lamps, hanging from the ceiling, shed a warm,
bright light on the walls decorated with paper flowers and garlands; shed a
warmer, brighter light on the red faces of the guests in their best
clothes.
At the head of the centre table sat the bride and bridegroom, she in a
white dress trimmed with stripes and bows of coloured ribbon, giving her
the appearance of an iced cake all ready to be cut and served in neat
little pieces to the bridegroom beside her, who wore a suit of white
clothes much too large for him and a white silk tie that rose halfway up
his collar. Grouped about them, with a fine regard for dignity and
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain: move, I was choking, my tongue was petrified. They
finished blindfolding him, they led him under the
rope. I couldn't shake off that clinging impotence.
But when I saw them put the noose around his neck,
then everything let go in me and I made a spring
to the rescue -- and as I made it I shot one
more glance abroad -- by George! here they came,
a-tilting! -- five hundred mailed and belted knights on
bicycles!
The grandest sight that ever was seen. Lord, how
the plumes streamed, how the sun flamed and flashed
 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court |