‘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.

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central concerns a personal, social or religious issue.Show how the content and the poetic techniques used increase your understanding of the issue.

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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.

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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 injustice The 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/onomatopoeonomatopoeiaia

Dehumanise beggar. Emphasise Dehumanise beggar. Emphasise physical ugliness/ deformitiesphysical ugliness/ deformities

Suggests the sadness/pathos of Suggests the sadness/pathos of beggar’s existence /emphasises beggar’s existence /emphasises heaviness of his body.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

STANZA 2, LINES 10-17

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.

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 scattered

the grain of the Word. It was they who had passed

the ruined temple outside, whose eyeswept pus, whose back was higher

than his head, whose lopsided mouth

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.

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.