‘Assisi’ by Norman MacCaig

Past Paper Questions - 2010 Choose 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 - 2009 Choose 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 - 2008 Choose 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.

Situation MacCaig 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.

The dwarf with his hands on backwards ‘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

The dwarf with his hands on backwards ‘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, Simile Dehumanise beggar. Emphasise physical ugliness/ deformities Metaphor Alliteration/ onomatopoeia Suggests the sadness/pathos of beggar’s 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 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. Hypocrisy – teaching others about God and ignoring the need for charity in front of him. Uselessness – teach to read

Cliché – lost all meaning 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 Cliché – lost all meaning Cynical/critical/unimpressed - portraying superficial message but ignoring the need for charity.

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 18-27 the ruined temple outside, whose eyes A 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 eyes wept 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. Absentmindedly following - Not understanding message - highlights the hypocrisy of the church and apathy of society to the poor and disabled. Extended metaphor More interested in looking like good Christians than actually being one. 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

Anti Climax-emphasise inner beauty/contrast with appearance Stanza 3 Anti Climax-emphasise inner beauty/contrast with appearance 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 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.