Respect for the Body
Respect for the Body Synthesis Essay “The Spirit is too Blunt an Instrument” by Anne Stevenson and “Any Soul to Any Body” by Cosmo Monkhouse describe the complicated relationship the body and soul share. These poets are highly opinionated about which complements the other; however in “Any Soul to Any Body” the poet shows more respect on a personal level for his body he’s departing.
The body is the physical make up of all human beings, animals, and insects and so on. In “Spirit is too Blunt”, Stevenson feels a baby is truly perfection and not only because it is so innocence, but for the fine details of “the distinct eyelashes and sharp crescent fingernails” (line 10) it is given. In “Any Soul”, Monkhouse exudes humor to say farewell to his shell that has “reached the limit of “it’s tether” (line 6). Monkhouse shows compassion and respect for his withered body, regardless of the fact that his soul feels younger and he doesn’t seem to be ready to leave. Instead of being angry that his body has decided it’s time to go; he realizes the respect he’s gained for it due to the fact that they’ve been together since the beginning. Monkhouse recognizes the teamwork and understands that their “partnership is near completed” (line 17) and rather than be sad he needs to be glad about the good times they shared. Stevenson on the other hand finds it hard to believe that a precision thing like the body is created out of a dirty habit mammals take part in. The “Spirit is too Blunt” states many facts regarding the body but never shows the appreciation for what it does. It seems as though Stevenson just simply read a biology textbook and wrote down facts about the details of the physical make up. Monkhouse clearly has a better understanding of how the body and the soul go hand in hand and gain respect for one another.
The soul grows and matures with the body and distinctively makes up who the person or animal is on the inside. Both poems realize it is the soul that brings upon
The body is the physical make up of all human beings, animals, and insects and so on. In “Spirit is too Blunt”, Stevenson feels a baby is truly perfection and not only because it is so innocence, but for the fine details of “the distinct eyelashes and sharp crescent fingernails” (line 10) it is given. In “Any Soul”, Monkhouse exudes humor to say farewell to his shell that has “reached the limit of “it’s tether” (line 6). Monkhouse shows compassion and respect for his withered body, regardless of the fact that his soul feels younger and he doesn’t seem to be ready to leave. Instead of being angry that his body has decided it’s time to go; he realizes the respect he’s gained for it due to the fact that they’ve been together since the beginning. Monkhouse recognizes the teamwork and understands that their “partnership is near completed” (line 17) and rather than be sad he needs to be glad about the good times they shared. Stevenson on the other hand finds it hard to believe that a precision thing like the body is created out of a dirty habit mammals take part in. The “Spirit is too Blunt” states many facts regarding the body but never shows the appreciation for what it does. It seems as though Stevenson just simply read a biology textbook and wrote down facts about the details of the physical make up. Monkhouse clearly has a better understanding of how the body and the soul go hand in hand and gain respect for one another.
The soul grows and matures with the body and distinctively makes up who the person or animal is on the inside. Both poems realize it is the soul that brings upon