| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac: hopes of recovering them. The natural boastfulness of school-boys
(possessed of a desire to outshine their mates) resting on these
memories of his childhood was developed in him beyond all measure. It
may also have been that his mother at home dwelt too fondly on the
days when she herself was a queen in Directorial Paris. At any rate,
Oscar, who was now leaving school, had been made to bear many
humiliations which the paying pupils put upon those who hold
scholarships, unless the scholars are able to impose respect by
superior physical ability.
This mixture of former splendor now departed, of beauty gone, of blind
maternal love, of sufferings heroically borne, made the mother one of
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Figure in the Carpet by Henry James: Isn't there for every writer a particular thing of that sort, the
thing that most makes him apply himself, the thing without the
effort to achieve which he wouldn't write at all, the very passion
of his passion, the part of the business in which, for him, the
flame of art burns most intensely? Well, it's THAT!"
I considered a moment - that is I followed at a respectful
distance, rather gasping. I was fascinated - easily, you'll say;
but I wasn't going after all to be put off my guard. "Your
description's certainly beautiful, but it doesn't make what you
describe very distinct."
"I promise you it would be distinct if it should dawn on you at
|