| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from McTeague by Frank Norris: nothing but gold--red, shining, pure gold, orange red--and
when you struck it with your knuckle, ah, you should have
heard! No church bell ever rang sweeter or clearer. It was
soft gold, too; you could bite into it, and leave the dent
of your teeth. Oh, that gold plate! I can see it just as
plain--solid, solid, heavy, rich, pure gold; nothing but
gold, gold, heaps and heaps of it. What a service that was!"
Maria paused, shaking her head, thinking over the vanished
splendor. Illiterate enough, unimaginative enough on all
other subjects, her distorted wits called up this picture
with marvellous distinctness. It was plain she saw the
McTeague |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Poems by Bronte Sisters: The very silken spaniel seems
Of quiet ease to tell,
As near its mistress' feet it dreams,
Sunk in a cushion's swell
And smiles seem native to the eyes
Of those sweet children, three;
They have but looked on tranquil skies,
And know not misery.
Alas! that Misery should come
In such an hour as this;
Why could she not so calm a home
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