| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: government and the municipality, together with scores of flourishing
articles in the newspapers, I don't see how he can rise any higher
after all that success."
"That," said Blondet, "is a regular Bixiou opinion."
"No doubt; and well-founded it is. Do you know the man?"
"No; he is never seen anywhere."
"Exactly; he is a bear, but a premeditated bear; a reflecting and
determined bear."
"I don't see," said Joseph Bridau, "why this savage inclination for
solitude should be so bad for an artist. What does a sculptor gain by
frequenting salons where gentlemen and ladies have taken to a habit of
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from One Basket by Edna Ferber: The boy, Eugene, grew up a very silent, handsome, shy young
fellow. The girl, dark, voluble, and rather interesting. The
husband, more and more immersed in his business, was absent from
home for long periods irritable after some of these home-comings;
boisterously high-spirited following other trips. Now growling
about household expenses and unpaid bills; now urging the
purchase of some almost prohibitive luxury. Anyone but a
nagging, self-absorbed, and vain woman such as Flora would have
marked these unmistakable signs. But Flora was a taker, not a
giver. She thought herself affectionate because she craved
affection unduly. She thought herself a fond mother because she
One Basket |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lady Susan by Jane Austen: child is shown by placing her in hands where her education will be properly
attended to; but because she has not the blind and weak partiality of most
mothers, she is accused of wanting maternal tenderness. Every person of
sense, however, will know how to value and commend her well-directed
affection, and will join me in wishing that Frederica Vernon may prove more
worthy than she has yet done of her mother's tender care. I have now, my
dear father, written my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you will know from
this letter how highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her character;
but if you are not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance that
your fears have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and
distress me.
Lady Susan |
