Question
A Defence of Skeletons
G. K. Chesterton
1 The importance of the human skeleton is very great, and the horror with which it is commonly regarded is somewhat mysterious. Without claiming for the human skeleton a wholly conventional beauty, we may assert that he is certainly not uglier than a bull-dog, whose popularity never wanes, and that he has a vastly more cheerful and ingratiating expression. But just as man is mysteriously ashamed of the skeletons of the trees in winter, so he is mysteriously ashamed of the skeleton of himself in death. It is a singular thing altogether, this horror of the architecture of things. One would think it would be most unwise in a man to be afraid of a skeleton, since Nature has set curious and quite insuperable obstacles to his running away from it.
2 One ground exists for this terror: a strange idea has infected humanity that the skeleton is typical of death. A man might as well say that a factory chimney was typical of bankruptcy. The factory may be left naked after ruin, the skeleton may be left naked after bodily dissolution; but both of them have had a lively and workmanlike life of their own, all the pulleys creaking, all the wheels turning, in the House of Livelihood as in the House of Life. There is no reason why this creature (new, as I fancy, to art), the living skeleton, should not become the essential symbol of life.
3 The truth is that man's horror of the skeleton is not horror of death at all. It is man's eccentric glory that he has not, generally speaking, any objection to being dead, but has a very serious objection to being undignified. And the fundamental matter which troubles him in the skeleton is the reminder that the ground-plan of his appearance is shamelessly grotesque. I do not know why he should object to this. He contentedly takes his place in a world that does not pretend to be genteel—a laughing, working, jeering world. He sees millions of animals carrying, with quite a dandified levity, the most monstrous shapes and appendages, the most preposterous horns, wings, and legs, when they are necessary to utility. He sees the good temper of the frog, the unaccountable happiness of the hippopotamus. He sees a whole universe which is ridiculous, from the animalcule, with a head too big for its body, up to the comet, with a tail too big for its head. But when it comes to the delightful oddity of his own inside, his sense of humour rather abruptly deserts him.
Question
The importance of the human skeleton is very great, and the horror with which it is commonly regarded is somewhat mysterious. Without claiming for the human skeleton a wholly conventional beauty, we may assert that he is certainly not uglier than a bull-dog, whose popularity never wanes, and that he has a vastly more cheerful and ingratiating expression. But just as man is mysteriously ashamed of the skeletons of the trees in winter, so he is mysteriously ashamed of the skeleton of himself in death. It is a singular thing altogether, this horror of the architecture of things. One would think it would be most unwise in a man to be afraid of a skeleton, since Nature has set curious and quite insuperable obstacles to his running away from it.
If the author were to add a concluding statement to the end of paragraph 1, which of these would be most appropriate?
Responses
A Of course, the skeleton isn't the only aspect of the human body which scares us.Of course, the skeleton isn't the only aspect of the human body which scares us.
B Bulldogs are popular, but bones are unpopular, and then there is the matter of blood.Bulldogs are popular, but bones are unpopular, and then there is the matter of blood.
C Most mysteries such as this one can naturally enough be explained, if we only pay attention to what really drives our fears.Most mysteries such as this one can naturally enough be explained, if we only pay attention to what really drives our fears.
D It is, after all, our inner architecture which enables us to buck up and stand tall; we should be proud of it, rather than frightened by it.It is, after all, our inner architecture which enables us to buck up and stand tall; we should be proud of it, rather than frightened by it.
G. K. Chesterton
1 The importance of the human skeleton is very great, and the horror with which it is commonly regarded is somewhat mysterious. Without claiming for the human skeleton a wholly conventional beauty, we may assert that he is certainly not uglier than a bull-dog, whose popularity never wanes, and that he has a vastly more cheerful and ingratiating expression. But just as man is mysteriously ashamed of the skeletons of the trees in winter, so he is mysteriously ashamed of the skeleton of himself in death. It is a singular thing altogether, this horror of the architecture of things. One would think it would be most unwise in a man to be afraid of a skeleton, since Nature has set curious and quite insuperable obstacles to his running away from it.
2 One ground exists for this terror: a strange idea has infected humanity that the skeleton is typical of death. A man might as well say that a factory chimney was typical of bankruptcy. The factory may be left naked after ruin, the skeleton may be left naked after bodily dissolution; but both of them have had a lively and workmanlike life of their own, all the pulleys creaking, all the wheels turning, in the House of Livelihood as in the House of Life. There is no reason why this creature (new, as I fancy, to art), the living skeleton, should not become the essential symbol of life.
3 The truth is that man's horror of the skeleton is not horror of death at all. It is man's eccentric glory that he has not, generally speaking, any objection to being dead, but has a very serious objection to being undignified. And the fundamental matter which troubles him in the skeleton is the reminder that the ground-plan of his appearance is shamelessly grotesque. I do not know why he should object to this. He contentedly takes his place in a world that does not pretend to be genteel—a laughing, working, jeering world. He sees millions of animals carrying, with quite a dandified levity, the most monstrous shapes and appendages, the most preposterous horns, wings, and legs, when they are necessary to utility. He sees the good temper of the frog, the unaccountable happiness of the hippopotamus. He sees a whole universe which is ridiculous, from the animalcule, with a head too big for its body, up to the comet, with a tail too big for its head. But when it comes to the delightful oddity of his own inside, his sense of humour rather abruptly deserts him.
Question
The importance of the human skeleton is very great, and the horror with which it is commonly regarded is somewhat mysterious. Without claiming for the human skeleton a wholly conventional beauty, we may assert that he is certainly not uglier than a bull-dog, whose popularity never wanes, and that he has a vastly more cheerful and ingratiating expression. But just as man is mysteriously ashamed of the skeletons of the trees in winter, so he is mysteriously ashamed of the skeleton of himself in death. It is a singular thing altogether, this horror of the architecture of things. One would think it would be most unwise in a man to be afraid of a skeleton, since Nature has set curious and quite insuperable obstacles to his running away from it.
If the author were to add a concluding statement to the end of paragraph 1, which of these would be most appropriate?
Responses
A Of course, the skeleton isn't the only aspect of the human body which scares us.Of course, the skeleton isn't the only aspect of the human body which scares us.
B Bulldogs are popular, but bones are unpopular, and then there is the matter of blood.Bulldogs are popular, but bones are unpopular, and then there is the matter of blood.
C Most mysteries such as this one can naturally enough be explained, if we only pay attention to what really drives our fears.Most mysteries such as this one can naturally enough be explained, if we only pay attention to what really drives our fears.
D It is, after all, our inner architecture which enables us to buck up and stand tall; we should be proud of it, rather than frightened by it.It is, after all, our inner architecture which enables us to buck up and stand tall; we should be proud of it, rather than frightened by it.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
D It is, after all, our inner architecture which enables us to buck up and stand tall; we should be proud of it, rather than frightened by it.
This conclusion aligns well with the theme of the paragraph, which discusses the importance of the human skeleton and challenges the fear associated with it. It suggests a positive perspective on the skeleton as something to take pride in rather than being afraid of, reinforcing the author's argument.
This conclusion aligns well with the theme of the paragraph, which discusses the importance of the human skeleton and challenges the fear associated with it. It suggests a positive perspective on the skeleton as something to take pride in rather than being afraid of, reinforcing the author's argument.