Explore by theme

control

A curated path through fragments connected by a shared motif, atmosphere, or recurring literary concern.

Veiled Fury

Emily Brontë · Wuthering Heights · Project Gutenberg

2026-05-05
It’s like a colt’s mane over his eyes!” He ventured this remark without any intention to insult; but Heathcliff’s violent nature was not prepared to endure the appearance of impertinence from one whom he seemed to hate, even then, as a rival. He seized a turee...

Feral Defiance

Bram Stoker · Dracula · Project Gutenberg

2026-05-03
During the service the dog would not come to its master, who was on the seat with us, but kept a few yards off, barking and howling. Its master spoke to it gently, and then harshly, and then angrily; but it would neither come nor cease to make a noise. It was ...

Restless Watch

Thomas Hardy · Tess of the d’Urbervilles · Project Gutenberg

2026-05-03
It was Alec d’Urberville, whom she had not set eyes on since he had conducted her the day before to the door of the gardener’s cottage where she had lodgings. “Upon my honour!” cried he, “there was never before such a beautiful thing in Nature or Art as you lo...

Framed Intrusion

Arthur Conan Doyle · The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes · Project Gutenberg

2026-04-25
But what in the name of the devil!” The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar mixture of the professional and of ...

Silent Burden

Mary Shelley · Frankenstein · Project Gutenberg

2026-04-22
But, besides, I could not bring myself to disclose a secret which would fill my hearer with consternation and make fear and unnatural horror the inmates of his breast. I checked, therefore, my impatient thirst for sympathy and was silent when I would have give...

Stubborn Rebellion

Jules Verne · A Journey to the Centre of the Earth · Project Gutenberg

2026-04-21
This demonstration of rebellion was followed by a volley of words and a stout application of whipcord; also followed by kicks on the part of the horse, which threw its head and heels upwards and tried to throw his rider. At length the sturdy little pony, sprea...

Shattering News

Oscar Wilde · The Picture of Dorian Gray · Project Gutenberg

2026-04-21
“Dorian,” he said, “my letter—don’t be frightened—was to tell you that Sibyl Vane is dead.” A cry of pain broke from the lad’s lips, and he leaped to his feet, tearing his hands away from Lord Henry’s grasp. How dare you say it?” “It is quite true, Dorian,” sa...

Silver Mischief

Jonathan Swift · Gulliver's Travels · Project Gutenberg

2026-04-19
One day, at dinner, this malicious little cub was so nettled with something I had said to him, that, raising himself upon the frame of her majesty’s chair, he took me up by the middle, as I was sitting down, not thinking any harm, and let me drop into a large ...

Measured Violence

H. G. Wells · The War of the Worlds · Project Gutenberg

2026-04-13
It has already been too long delayed.” I put out my hand and felt the meat chopper hanging to the wall. Before he was halfway across the kitchen I had overtaken him. With one last touch of humanity I turned the blade back and struck him with the butt.