| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Emma by Jane Austen: in every pleasure, every scheme of hers--one to whom she could speak
every thought as it arose, and who had such an affection for her
as could never find fault.
How was she to bear the change?--It was true that her friend was
going only half a mile from them; but Emma was aware that great must
be the difference between a Mrs. Weston, only half a mile from them,
and a Miss Taylor in the house; and with all her advantages,
natural and domestic, she was now in great danger of suffering
from intellectual solitude. She dearly loved her father, but he
was no companion for her. He could not meet her in conversation,
rational or playful.
 Emma |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: two men) nobody can tell now. But so far, Davidson was right.
They were in the cabin. He expected to hear the sounds of
breaking-in every moment. But the fact was that one of them
(perhaps Fector, who had stolen papers out of desks in his time)
knew how to pick a lock, and apparently was provided with the
tools. Thus while Davidson expected every moment to hear them
begin down there, they had the bar off already and two cases
actually up in the cabin out of the lazarette.
"In the diffused faint glow of the skylight the Frenchman moved no
more than a statue. Davidson could have shot him with the greatest
ease - but he was not homicidally inclined. Moreover, he wanted to
 Within the Tides |