| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: thumb for fifteen long years! High-school, indeed -- he had the
whole town under his thumb! Our ladies did not get up private
theatricals on Saturdays for fear he should hear of it, and the
clergy dared not eat meat or play cards in his presence. Under
the influence of people like Byelikov we have got into the way of
being afraid of everything in our town for the last ten or
fifteen years. They are afraid to speak aloud, afraid to send
letters, afraid to make acquaintances, afraid to read books,
afraid to help the poor, to teach people to read and write. . .
."
Ivan Ivanovitch cleared his throat, meaning to say something, but
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Dunwich Horror by H. P. Lovecraft: wherever it goes.
'An' he says, says he, Mis' Corey, as haow
he sot to look fer Seth's caows, frightened ez he was an' faound
'em in the upper pasture nigh the Devil's Hop Yard in an awful
shape. Haff on 'em's clean gone, an' nigh haff o' them that's
left is sucked most dry o' blood, with sores on 'em like they's
ben on Whateleys cattle ever senct Lavinny's black brat was born.
Seth hes gone aout naow to look at 'em, though I'll vaow he won't
keer ter git very nigh Wizard Whateley's! Cha'ncey didn't look
keerful ter see whar the big matted-daown swath led arter it leff
the pasturage, but he says he thinks it p'inted towards the glen
The Dunwich Horror |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Witch, et. al by Anton Chekhov: in the other a can, and in her mouth she had some silver coins.
"Where is father?" she asked, lisping.
"At the station," answered the labourer. " 'When it gets a little
darker,' he said, 'then I shall come.' "
And when it became known all through the household that Anisim
was sentenced to penal servitude, the cook in the kitchen
suddenly broke into a wail as though at a funeral, imagining that
this was demanded by the proprieties:
"There is no one to care for us now you have gone, Anisim
Grigoritch, our bright falcon. . . ."
The dogs began barking in alarm. Varvara ran to the window, and
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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 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving: identical spot that the unfortunate Andre was captured, and under
the covert of those chestnuts and vines were the sturdy yeomen
concealed who surprised him. This has ever since been considered
a haunted stream, and fearful are the feelings of the school-boy
who has to pass it alone after dark.
As he approached the stream, his heart began to thump he
summoned up, however, all his resolution, gave his horse half a
score of kicks in the ribs, and attempted to dash briskly across
the bridge; but instead of starting forward, the perverse old
animal made a lateral movement, and ran broadside against the
fence. Ichabod, whose fears increased with the delay, jerked the
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow |
