‘Assisi’ by Norman MacCaig
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Transcript of ‘Assisi’ by Norman MacCaig
‘Assisi’ by
Norman MacCaig
Past Paper Questions - 2010Choose a poem which could be considered as
having a powerful message.Show how the poet effectively conveys this message through his or her use of poetic techniques.
Choose a poem in which the poet creates a particular mood or atmosphere.Show how the poet creates this mood or atmosphere by his or her choice of subject matter and use of poetic techniques.
Choose a poem which portrays and interesting character.Show how the poet uses poetic techniques to make the character interesting.
Past Paper Questions - 2009Choose a poem which has as one of its
central concerns a personal, social or religious issue.Show how the content and the poetic techniques used increase your understanding of the issue.
Past Paper Questions - 2008Choose a poem which creates an atmosphere of
sadness, pity or loss. Show how the poet creates the atmosphere and what effect it has on the subject matter of the poem.
Choose a poem which reflects on an aspect of human behaviour in such a way as to deepen your understanding of human nature.Describe the aspect of human behaviour which you have identified and show how the poet’s use of ideas and techniques brought you to a deeper understanding of human nature.
Past Paper Questions - 2007 Choose a poem which creates pity or sympathy in you.
Show how the feelings of pity or sympathy are brought into focus by the use of poetic techniques.
Choose a poem which describes a scene or incident vividly.Briefly state what is being described and then go on to show how the poetic techniques used make the description vivid.
Who was St Francis?Founder of the Franciscan Order, born at Assisi in
Umbria, in 1181, he was the patron saint of animals. He came from a wealthy family, but he lived a poor life as
he loved the poor and pitied their suffering.
SituationMacCaig observes a deformed beggar outside the
Church of St Francis in the Italian town of Assisi. The beggar is ignored by the priest and tourists who are being shown Giotto’s famous frescoes.
Themes The hypocrisy of the Church,The plight/isolation of the disabled, Rich v. poor/social injusticeThe apathy of society towards the less fortunate
Stanza 1
• MacCaig begins by describing the beggar using brutal language.
• He is juxtaposed with the grand church of St Francis.
• Tone is created through the negative and unsympathetic description of the beggar.
‘Assisi’ - STANZA 1
The dwarf with his hands on backwards
sat, slumped like a half-filled sack
on tiny twisted legs from which
sawdust might run,
outside the three tiers of churches built
in honour of St Francis, brother
of the poor, talker with birds, over whom
he had the advantage
of not being dead yet.
Description of beggar
in negative terms
Contrast with grand church and gentle saint
Juxtaposition
‘Assisi’ - STANZA 1
The dwarf with his hands on backwards
sat, slumped like a half-filled sack
on tiny twisted legs from which
sawdust might run,
MetaphorMetaphor
SimileSimile
Alliteration/Alliteration/onomatopoeiaonomatopoeia
Dehumanise beggar. Emphasise physical Dehumanise beggar. Emphasise physical ugliness/ deformitiesugliness/ deformities
Suggests the sadness/pathos of beggar’s Suggests the sadness/pathos of beggar’s existence /emphasises heaviness of his body.existence /emphasises heaviness of his body.
‘Assisi’ - STANZA 1
outside the three tiers of churches built
in honour of St Francis, brother
of the poor, talker with birds, over whom
he had the advantage
of not being dead yet.
• Irony – being alive is the only thing going for him yet harsh description suggests beggar would be better off dead
• Sarcastic –anger at the treatment of beggar.• Emphasises that life is temporary - negates the only positive
thing about the beggar.
Stanza 2
• Stanza 2 moves inside the church where the priest, who is acting more as a tour guide is showing the aesthetic beauty of the church and showing the paintings depicting the word of God.
Stanza 2, lines 10-17
A priest explainedhow clever it was of Giottoto make his frescoes tell storiesthat would reveal to the illiterate the goodnessof God and the suffering of His Son. I understoodthe explanation and the cleverness.
Hypocrisy – teaching others about God and ignoring the
need for charity in front of him. Uselessness – teach to read
A priest explained
how clever it was of Giotto
to make his frescoes tell stories
that would reveal to the illiterate the goodness
of God and the suffering
of His Son. I understood
the explanation and
the cleverness.
Stanza 2, lines 10-17
Enjambment
Cynical/critical/unimpressed - portraying superficial message but
ignoring the need for charity.
Cliché – lost all meaning
Stanza 3 • Introduction of the tourists.• Priest continues to show the crowd around.
They ignore the beggar.• Further brutal description of beggar – list of
deformities. Anti-climax – surprising description of beggar’s voice which is “sweet” and “gentle”.
Stanza 3, lines 18-27A rush of tourists, clucking contentedly,fluttered after him as he scatteredthe grain of the Word. It was they who had passed
the ruined temple outside, whose eyeswept pus, whose back was higherthan his head, whose lopsided mouthsaid Grazie in a voice as sweetas a child’s when she speaks to her motheror a bird’s when it spoketo St Francis.
Stanza 3
A rush of tourists, clucking contentedly,
fluttered after him as he scattered
the grain of the Word.
Extended metaphor
More interested in looking like good Christians than actually being
one.
Absentmindedly following -Not understanding message - highlights
the hypocrisy of the church and apathy of society to the poor and disabled.
Attitude - Unfavourable/ disapproving.
Stanza 3...
the grain of the Word. It was they who had passed
the ruined temple outside, whose eyes
wept pus, whose back was higher
than his head, whose lopsided mouth
...
Religious allusions
Stanza 3
said Grazie in a voice as sweet
as a child’s when she speaks to her mother
or a bird’s when it spoke
to St Francis.Innocence
Anti Climax-emphasise inner beauty/contrast with
appearance
Final line is a reference to St Francis which drives home the poet’s message and condemnation of
those who ignore his preaching in favour of admiring physical beauty.
Looking at the poem as a whole
• Structure– Each stanza begins with a description of one of
the main characters. 1- beggar, 2 – priest, 3 – tourists. reinforces the lack of contact between them and the isolation of the beggar.
– Poem ends as it begins more brutal descriptions of the beggar and his disabilities.
“Assisi” is a poem of contrasts
Dwarf and the church juxtaposition of beggar and church. “three tiers” -- “ruined temple”.
Natural goodness of St Francis and the callous indifference of the priest. Language used to describe St Francis is good and pure. Language to describe priest = elaborate, abstract which suggests proud, pompous nature.
Dwarf – he is ugly but voice is sweet Rich tourists ignore poor beggar Caring nature of Christianity – preaching vs. practice.