1. Poem 1

2. Learning Intention: We are learning about the religious CONTEXT of the poem So that I can Understand some of the religious references in the poem Success Criteria: I can... Define important religious references and explain what they mean.

3. Normally a detailed study of a poem would begin with a discussion of the title. However, an understanding of this title depends on an understanding of the religious context of the work. There are also a few religious references in the poem that you may not be familiar with and many of your questions may be about these so we will begin by looking at some CONTEXT. You will be given a handout with relevant information about these references. It is your job to read through this information and take notes on each of the topics mentioned. Make sure your notes are THOROUGH as I will be testing your knowledge of this later in the lesson.

4.  Assisi is a town in Italy where St Francis was born in 1182 and where the churches built in his honour are a tourist attraction. St Francis came from a rich family but renounced his wealth in order to preach  St Francis is very famous for giving up all his wealth and choosing to live a life of simplicity and poverty while he preached and helped the poor.  St Francis is also famous for his gentleness. He is the patron saint of animals.  The current Pope, Pope Francis, named himself after St Francis of Assisi in order to show his commitment to helping the poor.

5.  The Basilica of St. Francis (a basilica is a large church) stands in the town of Assisi. It is one of the most important centres of Christian pilgrimage in Italy and therefore is often busy with visitors.  As well as religious visitors, the Basilica also attracts tourists because of its beautiful frescoes - art painted directly onto walls. These paintings depict famous stories from the Bible.  When the church was built the majority of the population couldn’t read or write. Frescoes were used in churches to help the congregation understand Christian stories.

6. Giotto is one of the most famous artists of the Renaissance period He painted some of the frescoes in the Basilica of St Francis “The suffering of His Son” is the crucifixion of Jesus, which Christians believe brought about the salvation of Mankind, thus showing God’s goodness.

7. Learning Intention: We are learning how to read the poem for UNDERSTANDING So that I can Understand the basic points of the poem before I study the poet's techniques Success Criteria: I can... Comment on the title of the poem Identify and define any unfamiliar vocabulary words Identify the speaker, setting and subject of the poem Summarise what happens in the poem

8. First, let’s consider the title. Write it down in the middle of your page and construct a mind map using the various prompts to help you. What do we think about when we read this word? What do we already know about this word? What do your facts suggest about the poem? Considering all the information we have gathered, what do you think the poem will be about?

10. Now watch the various slides of images of Assisi. Do these pictures support your initial ideas? What are the pictures of? How do they make you feel? Add these new ideas to your mind map

15. You will listen to a recording of the poet or your teacher will read ‘Assisi’ out loud to the class. Close your eyes and listen carefully. What were your first impressions of the poem? How do you feel now? We will now read the poem as a class. As you read it for the second time I want you to make a list of any unfamiliar vocabulary words that you come across and any questions or thoughts/observations that you may have.

16. VocabularyDefinitionQuestionsAnswerThoughts

17. There are a few religious references in the poem that you may not be familiar with and many of your questions may be about these. You will be given a handout with relevant information about these references. It is your job to read through this information and take notes on each of the topics mentioned. Make sure your notes are THOROUGH as I will be testing your knowledge of this later in the lesson.

18. Work with a partner and compare your ideas. Try to generate definitions for all the unfamiliar vocabulary words. You can use the dictionaries at the front of the room, each other or dicationary.com on your phone to help you! Make sure to look up every word you're not sure of and write it down in the table. I will be testing your knowledge of the vocabulary later in the lesson. Now, do the same for any questions you may still have. Remember to use your notes on context to help you!

19. I will now go round the room and each pair will be expected to answer a question on either the vocabulary or the religious context of the poem. Everyone should be able to answer.

20. Working in the same pairs, read the poem again and take notes under the following headings What (happens in the poem) Where (do events takes place) When ( do events take place) Who ( is mentioned in the poem)

21. The poet describes the scene as he witnesses a deformed dwarf sits begging outside the Basilica. Meanwhile a priest explains the importance of Giotto’s work to tourists viewing the church. The tourists follow the priests obediently and ignore the dwarf as they pass, oblivious to his need and gentle expressions of gratitude. Assisi in Italy outside the Basilica of St Francis Daytime – high tourist season? Summer? The dwarf, the priest, the tourists, the poet himself as witness to the scene.

22. Now use your notes to write a diary entry where you pretend to be the poet reflecting on the day’s events. Dear Diary, To day I visited the Basilica of St Francis...

24. 1. In your own words, describe two of the dwarf’s deformities. 2. What does the expression ‘three tiers’ suggest about the church? 3. How does the figure of the dwarf contrast with the church? 4. Who does the church honour? Include three details about him. 5. What advantage does the beggar have over St Francis?

25. Stanza 2 COPY The poem changes focus to describe a tour of the church which is being led by a priest. The tour is focused on the frescoes of biblical stories, painted by Giotto. 1)To whom is the priest speaking? 2) What is unusual about the priest’s behaviour in verse 2? 3) What is the purpose of Giotto’s frescoes? 4) Why does the poet say that he understood “the explanation and the cleverness”?

26. COPY The narrator’s gaze and criticism moves to the group of tourists following the priest. The narrator is explicitly critical of the tourists, describing how they have ignored the beggar outside the church. The narrator again describes the dwarf’s physical appearance in a vivid and unsentimental way. However, he ends the stanza by showing the dwarf’s gratitude and making an explicit link between the dwarf and St Francis.

27. 1) To what are the tourists being compared in this stanza? 2) What is being described as a “ruined temple”? 3) In your own words, describe three further deformities that the dwarf suffers from 4) What is the one beautiful feature of the man? 5) What is the poet hoping to emphasise with this? 6) Why does the poem end on a further reference to St Francis of Assisi?

28. Learning Intention: We are learning WHY MacCaig chose to write this poem So that I can Understand the message that he is trying to convey to the reader Success Criteria I should be able to give one reason why MacCaig wrote the poem I could also be able to offer another reason why the poem was written I might also be able to identify what makes the poem universal

29. Now that we have a good basic understanding of the poem, we have to think about the WHY question. Why did the poet choose to write this particular poem about this particular incident?

30. In groups, consider the following quotation “poetry is most often based on a singular, personal experience but the beauty in poetry is what makes it universal” What is the ‘singular personal experience’ that MacCaig had? Is this JUST a poem about a memorable experience? What makes the poem universal i.e. something that many people can relate to?

31. He uses this experience to criticise tourists and the Church for placing more importance on a church building than on following the message and example of Christ and St Francis by helping those less fortunate. His message is universal because we have all witnessed or experienced hypocrisy in our lives.

32. Analysis

33. Now that we understand WHAT is happening in the poem and WHAT MacCaig’s ’s message is, we now must think about HOW he chooses to express this message through his use of language. This is called ANALYSIS and these questions will form the majority of the questions in the exam.

34. Before we do this we must make sure that we are all confident using the specific technical terms that you will be expected to beable to identify and discuss in the exam. We will revise technical terms that you will have encountered at National 5 and we will introduce some new terms that you may not have came across yet.

35. TECHNICAL TERMS Today we are learning how to identify and comment on the techniques used in the poem.

36. I can match up familiar techniques with their definitions I can also define six more unfamiliar techniques I can even understand how to comment on techniques effectively

37. Onomatopoeia Metaphor ImageryRepetition Connotation Simile denotation Personification Alliteration The repetition of initial consonant sounds. A comparison between two objects by saying one is the other The use of words which imitate sound. Words or phrases that create a mental picture. The repeating of words, phrases, lines, or stanzas. The meaning suggested by a particular word The dictionary definition or literal meaning of a word A comparison between two objects using a specific word or comparison such as "like", "as", or "than". A description of a non- human or its actions that seem to give it human characteristics.

38. 3 Onomatopoeia 9Metaphor 4Imagery 5Repetition 7Connotation 6Simile 8denotation 1Personification 2Alliteration 2The repetition of initial consonant sounds. 9 A comparison between two objects by saying one is the other 3The use of words which imitate sound. 4Words or phrases that create a mental picture. 5The repeating of Words or phrases, 7 The meaning suggested by a particular word 8The dictionary definition or literal meaning of a word 6 comparison between two objects using "like", "as", or "than". 1 A description of a non- human or its actions that seem to give it human characteristics.

39. Juxtaposition Enjambment Extended metaphor Irony Assonance Tone

40. You will be given THREE news terms to learn and your partner will do the same. You must copy down the technique and definition THEN you will ‘teach’ your partner the definitions

41. Enjambment in poetry, when one line runs on to the next without a punctuation mark to break it. Used to throw emphasis on a particular word or pair of words Irony where the speaker’s implicit meaning differs sharply from the meaning that seems to be expressed Tone the choice of words reveal the attitude of the speaker (how it might be read) Juxtaposition two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect Extended metaphor Comparing two things, as if one actually is the other in a number of different ways on a number of occasions throughout the poem Assonance resemblance of sound in nearby words, arising particularly from the rhyming of two or more stressed vowels

42. When it comes to explaining the effect of a particular technique you need to think about what the technique adds to the poem.  What does it highlight or reveal or reinforce?  What does it suggest?  What does it make you think of?  What are the connotations?  What is gained through the comparison?

43.  What does it suggest? Suggests that the dwarf is deformed in some way  What does it make you think of? Makes me think of an object that’s been put together badly/incorrectly  What are the connotations? Connotations of word ‘dwarf’ are quite cold and unfeeling and suggests that he is identified by only his deformity  What does it highlight or reveal or reinforce? Highlights his disabilities and the fact that he is somehow ‘broken’ and seen as ‘wrong’or less than  What is gained through the comparison? Allows the reader to visualise his physical suffering

44. I should be able to identify new and familiar techniques in the poem I could also be able to comment on examples of new and familiar techniques I might even be able to evaluate the effect of MacCaig’s use of new and familiar techniques

45. In the first stanza, MacCaig presents a deliberately shocking and detached description of a beggar that he sees outside the Basilica. His indifferent and unsentimental tone towards the scene is quite startling but is an accurate reflection of most people’s reaction to poverty and disability. This stanza helps MacCaig to introduce his central concern of HYPOCRISY and ATTITUDES TO OTHERS.

46. The first character we meet is the beggar. In this first verse, MacCaig uses a number of techniques to describe the beggar, including word choice, similes and alliteration. THINK - identify the techniques used in stanza one, label them, quote them and write down the line reference. PAIR – discuss the techniques used by MacCaig and add to the ‘effect’ column of your table SHARE – share your ideas with the larger group and add any fresh information

47. TechniqueLineQuotationEffect Metaphor Word choice 1212 ‘hands on backwards’ ‘sat, slumped’ Suggests that the dwarf is deformed in some way with connotations of a broken or badly put together doll Word choice “slumped” shows that beggar is unable to support himself and sit up straight effectively suggesting dwarf is completely weak/ without energy/ defeated simile2 Word choice3,4 alliteration3 Juxtaposition Assonance W/C /irony 1-5 5 6 Enjambment5,6,8

48. TechniqueLineQuotationEffect Metaphor Word choice 1212 ‘hands on backwards’ ‘sat, slumped’ Suggests that the dwarf is deformed in some way with connotations of a broken or badly put together doll Word choice “slumped” shows that beggar is unable to support himself and sit up straight effectively suggesting dwarf is completely weak/ without energy/ defeated simile2‘like a half filled sack’ the dwarf is compared to an inanimate object, a sack. The fact that it is only “half-filled” suggests that the dwarf is not complete and less than - seen as fully human. Word choice3,4‘sawdust’ twisted develops the dispassionate comparison of the dwarf to a poorly put together doll, stuffed with sawdust. Sawdust is a by-product of creation so reinforces his status as less than and incomplete. Hints at extent of deformity and distortion of his body alliteration3‘tiny twisted’ The sharp repeated “t” sound helps create a cold and unsympathetic tone. Juxtaposition Assonance W/C /irony 1-5 5 6 ‘the dwarf...churches’ ‘three tiers’ ‘honour’ The solidly built grand building contrasts sharply with the broken and tiny dwarf slumped outside. ‘three tiers’ reflects sheer size and repeated structure of church suggesting the nobleness of the church building but highlights lack of honour for those still living. Ironic as it actually contradicts teachings of St Francis. Enjambment5,6,8‘built...brother’ Here he is able to connect his description of this grand building with the term “brother” suggestion of an incongruity between the ideals of St Francis and the grand church.

49. 1 a) Re-read the first 3 lines of the poem. Explain why this image of the dwarf is so shocking to the reader. c) The poet has used the definite article when describing “the dwarf”. By using this, the poet has given us an idea of his attitude towards the dwarf at this point. What is the poet’s view of him? 2 a) The poet makes use of an alliterative simile to describe the dwarf “sat slumped like a half-filled sack”. Explain why you think this simile has been used to describe the dwarf. b) Why do you think the poet has dehumanised the dwarf like this? 3. Describe the impact of the metaphor describing the dwarf’s “tiny, twisted legs from which sawdust might run”. 5. The poet also makes use of contrasting images to evoke sympathy from the reader. The poet describes the dwarf and then contrasts this with the churches. Is MacCaig trying to make a point about the values of the church through the use of this contrast? 6. a) Explain why enjambment is used in the following lines, “…over whom he had the advantage of not being dead yet.” 7) What tone is created in this stanza?

50. Learning Intention: We are learning about the techniques used by MacCaig to describe the priest to the reader in stanza two So that I can Understand and comment on MacCaig’s use of language in the exam Success Criteria I should be able to define and identify new and familiar techniques I could also be able to comment on examples of new and familiar techniques I might also be able to evaluate the effect of MacCaig’s use of new and familiar techniques

51. The next character we meet is the priest, followed by the tourists. In the second and third verse, MacCaig uses a number of techniques to describe them and to make his own feelings clear to the reader. The whole section is deeply ironic as the tourists and priest behave in a way that is in direct contrast to the teachings of the church. MacCaig uses these lines to convey his feelings about the priests and the tourists. It is clear he is quite critical of them throughout and his techniques are used to reinforce his condemnation of what he sees and communicate his anger at their blatant hypocrisy and failure to live by Christian ideals.

52. Take a new page and write the word ‘Christianity’ in the middle of your page. On one side I want you to write down all the things you would normally associate with a priest/Christians i.e what is his role in society? What characteristics should he have? What do they believe is important? Then, on the opposite side, I want you to write down your thoughts and observations about the priest and the tourists in the poem. What is his role? What are his characteristics? What do they believe is important?

53. THINK - identify the techniques used to communicate MacCaig’s feelings, label them, quote them and write down the line reference. PAIR – discuss the techniques used by MacCaig and add to the ‘effect’ column of your table SHARE – share your ideas with the larger group and add any fresh information

54. TechniqueLineQuotationEffect Word choice Repetition 1717 ‘explained’ ‘explanation’ Word choice2‘clever’ tone4‘reveal to the illiterate’ A critical tone is created here... enjambment4,5 Emphasises the words “goodness” and “suffering” – recalls the suffering of the dwarf and highlights the lack of “goodness” being displayed 6-7‘I understood the explanation…’ A bitter tone is created here as the poet realises that although he understands the message it is obviously lost on the priest and the tourists who continue to ignore the beggar. Word choice/ambiguity Extended metaphor Word choice 8 1-3 3 ‘cleverness’ ‘ they’ ‘passed’

55. When it comes to explaining the effect of a particular technique you need to think about what the technique adds to the poem.  What does it highlight or reveal or reinforce?  What does it suggest?  What does it make you think of?  What are the connotations?  What is gained through the comparison?

56. TechniqueLineQuotationEffect Word choice Repetition 1717 ‘explained’ ‘explanation’ The priest is seen as patronising in referring to the message of God as something to be ‘explained’ to those ‘less than’ the priest himself. reinforces the idea that the priest is more concerned with words than action. Word choice2‘clever’ The narrator has selected details that suggest the Priest is boastful and proud. Values intellect over human kindness. tone4‘reveal to the illiterate’ A critical tone is created here as he sees them as ‘less than’ and defined by their flaws. In his eyes they need to be taught how to be Godly. enjambment4,5 Emphasises the words “goodness” and “suffering” – recalls the suffering of the dwarf and highlights the lack of “goodness” being displayed Word choice6-7‘I understood the explanation…’ A bitter tone is created here as the poet realises that although he understands the message it is obviously lost on the priest and the tourists who continue to ignore the beggar. Word choice/ambiguity Extended metaphor Word choice Enjambment 8 1-3 3 ‘cleverness’ ‘A rush...clucking...grain of the Word’ ‘ they’ ‘passed’ Clever of Giotto as an artist yes but the second meaning is that the priest is clever in commercialising, and using the history of St Francis, to make money. MacCaig uses an extended metaphor to describe the group of tourists. He compares them following the priest to chickens pecking at grain- mindless and fololish. ‘they’ cold and judgemental. shows condemnation of their actions – he feels no affinity to them. Enjambment emphasises the verb – they ignored/walked by the suffering of the dwarf. Exposes their inner ugliness.

57. 1. We meet “a priest”. This description contrasts with our introduction to “the dwarf” as it does not use the definite article. What does the use of the word “a” suggest about the priest? 2. a) What does the priests explain to the tourists in stanza 2? b) What kind of tone does he use when speaking to the tourists? Quote and explain. c) He is obviously trying to impress the tourists with his explanations. What do you think he is trying to get from them? 2. Do you think the dwarf will benefit from this tour in any way? In which way should he benefit? 3. There is a contrast between the words used by the priest in stanza 2 and his actions throughout the poem. Explain what this contrast is and why it is ironic. 4. How does MacCaig feel about the priest?

58. Learning Intention: We are learning about the techniques used by MacCaig to describe the tourists to the reader in the final stanza So that I can Understand and comment on MacCaig’s use of language in the exam Success Criteria I should be able to define and identify new and familiar techniques used in the final stanza I could also be able to comment on examples of new and familiar techniques I might also be able to evaluate the effect of MacCaig’s use of new and familiar techniques

59. 1. The other characters contrasted with the dwarf are the tourists themselves. Look at the first three lines of stanza 3. a) Explain which extended metaphor is used to describe the tourists. b) Why does this image seem appropriate in this situation? c) Pick out three examples of word choice that help extend the metaphor and comment on the effect of each. WORD EFFECT_______________________ 2. What is the tourists’ response to the sight of the dwarf sitting on the steps? Quote and explain. b) What technique does the poet use here to reinforce their indifference? 3. How is the reader made to feel about the tourists? 4. What is ironic about the fact that they ignore the ‘ ruined temple of the dwarf’?

60. “A Farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it, and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” The seed, (the Grain in the poem), is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word of God, but refuse to believe it. The seeds in the rock are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go deep. It is only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone. The seeds that fall in the thorns are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money and having fun. The seeds that fall on the good soil are the people who hear the Word and then practise what they preach.

61. Reading stanzas two and three again who do you think the poet uses to represent The weeds? The gravel? The fertile soil?

62. Learning Intention: We are learning about the techniques used by MacCaig to describe the beggar to the reader in the final stanza So that I can Understand and comment on MacCaig’s use of language in the exam Success Criteria I should be able to define and identify new and familiar techniques I could also be able to comment on examples of new and familiar techniques I might also be able to evaluate the effect of MacCaig’s use of new and familiar techniques

63. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” The “temple” in the poem that is “ruined” refers to the belief in the Bible that Man is made in God’s image and we should look after our body like a temple and we should not abuse it because this would mean we are not respecting God. (It might be interesting here to consider the situation of the dwarf. If we are made in God’s image then the dwarf must also be part of God’s kingdom. Who is nearer to God – the dwarf? The priest? The tourists? The poet? Why?

64. Look at how MacCaig describes the beggar at the end of the poem. How does MacCaig evoke a feeling of sympathy towards the beggar? Examine the techniques used by the poet using the table below.

65. The next character we meet is the priest, followed by the tourists. In the second and third verse, MacCaig uses a number of techniques to describe them, including word choice, similes and alliteration. THINK - identify the techniques used, label them, quote them and write down the line reference. PAIR – discuss the techniques used by MacCaig and add to the ‘effect’ column of your table SHARE – share your ideas with the larger group and add any fresh information

66. TechniqueLineQuotationEffect Metaphor Word choice 122122 ‘ruined temple’ ‘eyes wept pus’ Disgusting image.Connotations of illness and infection. Imagery4 4,5,6 ‘higher than his head’Shocking image. Used to reflect sheer hardships of his day to day life Word choice Enjambment 6Physical reminder of his difference Instead of another horrific description the emphasis falls on “Grazie”, Italian for “thank you” showing gratitude. Word choice Simile 7878 ‘Grazie’ ‘as sweet as a child’s...’ Despite his hardships he values what he has and shows gratitude to those who are willing to help him. Word choice Structure 8 10 ‘mother’ ‘St Francis’ Poem ends with reference to St Francis....

67. TechniqueLineQuotationEffect Metaphor1‘ruined temple’ The metaphor suggests that the beggar’s body is as holy and worthy of respect as the great church, however the tourists have “passed” him by. The beggar is ruined as he has been neglected and fallen into disrepair just like a building. Metaphor Word choice 2222 ‘Eyes wept pus’ ‘pus’ obviously the beggar would be distressed (tears)through his immense suffering and poverty but it is also effective in communicating yet another aspect of the dwarf’s degraded physical condition has connotations of illness and infection Imagery Repetition 4 4,5,6 ‘higher than his head’ ‘whose’ Shocking image. Used to reflect sheer hardships of his day to day life repetition of “whose” to personalise his plight and force the reader to see him as a person worthy of attention. Word choice Enjambment 6666 ‘lopsided’ ‘mouth’ Physical reminder of his difference Instead of another horrific description the emphasis falls on “Grazie”, Italian for “thank you” showing gratitude. Word choice Simile 7878 ‘Grazie’ ‘as sweet as a child’s...’ Despite his hardships he values what he has and shows gratitude to those who are willing to help him. is grateful and childlike. The narrator makes clear that though the dwarf’s body is deformed and ugly, his soul is not. He has inner beauty. Word choice Structure 8 10 ‘mother’ ‘St Francis’ The relationship between child and its mother has connotations of love, innocence, caring and compassion; all things which the dwarf has been denied Poem ends with reference to St Francis. The narrator is pointing out that St Francis would have spoken to and helped the dwarf but his message has been lost.

68. The Beggar 1)Again the writer uses a metaphor to describe the dwarf in this stanza The tourists pass the “ruined temple” of the dwarf. Explain why you think the poet has described the dwarf like this. b) Why is this image particularly appropriate in this poem? 2) The poet again uses enjambment in his description of the dwarf. In lines 21-22 he describes “…the eyes/ wept pus…”. 3) Explain why this image of the dwarf is unpleasant. 4) The poet has made a point of emphasising the hideous physical appearance of the dwarf. However, the last four lines of the poem undermine this impression of him. Explain in detail, using quotations, how the poet does this. 5) What tone is created in this stanza?

69. Learning Intention: We are learning about the techniques used by MacCaig to communicate his ideas to the reader So that I can Understand and comment on MacCaig’s use of language in the exam Success Criteria I should be able to define and identify new and familiar techniques I could also be able to comment on examples of new and familiar techniques I might also be able to evaluate the effect of MacCaig’s use of new and familiar techniques

70. You will be split into groups and each group will have responsibility for annotating a particular verse of the poem using the notes provided. You will all have 30 minutes to annotate your stanza. It is very important that you discuss this with your group and make sure your annotation is the best it can possibly be.

71. Sets the poem IN PLACE. This is a personal experience the poet had while on holiday in Italy. Popular tourist destination – connotations of MONEY Famous for being birthplace of St Francis who preached love, charity and compassion for the poor – IRONIC as poem is about beggar who is discarded and ignored Home to grand church built in St Francis’ honour top celebrate his good works and love for God – IRONIC as priest and tourists value the word of God but DO NOT practice it Site of Christian pilgrimage. Church holds “The suffering of His Son” which Christians believe brought about the salvation of Mankind, thus showing God’s goodness. This is in stark contrast to the lack of goodness shown towards the beggar.

72. Birthplace of St Francis who preached love, charity and compassion for the poor – IRONIC as poem is about beggar who is discarded and ignored Home to grand church - IRONIC as priest and tourists value the word of God but DO NOT practice it Site of Christian pilgrimage. Church holds “The suffering of His Son” showing God’s goodness. Stark CONTRAST to the lack of goodness shown towards the beggar. Popular tourist destination – connotations of MONEY Sets poem in PLACE The title ‘Assisi’

73. Your ‘learning groups’ will be … Group 1 and 3 = Stanza 1 Group 2 and 4 = Stanza 2 Group 5 and 6 = Stanza 3 You will be responsible for using these notes to teach some of the other people in the class.

74. Now you are going to take on the role of teacher. You will be rearranged into “teaching groups”. One person from each “learning group” will form a new group and you will take turns to share your findings. By the end of your time you will know about the poem you have been studying. You should add your notes to your A4 copy of the poem so that you will have all of the information that you need to complete analysis. Understand? No? Let’s look at the following slide and see if it is any clearer.

75. Learning GroupsTeaching Groups

76. Assisi

77. ‘The dwarf’ – forces us to see him as an individual but also identifies him by his disability The reader is instantly alerted to the “wrongness” of the dwarf: “hands on backwards” suggests that he is like a doll, or puppet that has been put together incorrectly. The word choice of “slumped” is effective because it suggests that the dwarf is weak and forgotten, completely without energy or structure. In the simile “like a half-filled sack” the dwarf is compared to an inanimate object, a sack. The fact that it is only “half-filled” suggests that the dwarf is not seen as fully human. This unsettling description continues with the alliteration of, “tiny twisted”. The sharp repeated “t” sound helps create a cold and unsympathetic tone. “sawdust might run”, develops the dispassionate comparison of the dwarf to a poorly put together doll, stuffed with sawdust. This lengthy description of the dwarf, with repeated suggestions of the dwarf being an object and/or less than human, creates a detached and dispassionate tone for the narrator. This suggests the way in which people are responding to the dwarf; not as a person to be helped but as a grotesque object that can be ignored.

78. The description of the basilica’s “three tiers” emphasises that it is a tall and solidly constructed building. This is a stark contrast to the dwarf who is “slumped” outside it. Assonance of “three tiers” reflects the repeated structure of the church and hints at elaborate design (overkill). “honour” – word choice again suggesting the nobleness of the church building Here he is able to connect his description of this grand building with the term “brother” using enjambment, suggesting family and equality and then contrast this with “of the poor”. This is the first suggestion of an incongruity between the ideals of St Francis and the way in which his church is used for worship. St Francis saw himself as equal to the poor, so it is ironic that his church is so grand in contrast to the poor beggar. This comparison of St Francis and the beggar introduces the irony of the tourists giving their attention to worshipping someone who has been dead for hundreds of years and ignoring the beggar, who is still alive and can be helped. Word choice of “yet” gives the narrator a bitter tone. Though St Francis saw himself as a brother to the poor, the only positive aspect of the dwarf’s life is that he is alive, but the narrator emphasises that even this is only temporary.

79. First-person narration and free verse successfully express the narrator’s feelings about the priest, without them being explicitly stated. The narrator has selected details that suggest the Priest is boastful, “how clever it was of Giotto...”, and patronising, “reveal to the illiterate”. His tone is critical. The free verse structure and use of enjambment puts emphasis on the words “goodness” and “suffering”. This recalls the suffering of the dwarf. This is ironic; the priest has clearly not learned these lessons as he ignores the dwarf who is in desperate need of his care.

80. These short lines convey a critical and bitter tone, suggesting that the narrator is angry at the priest. The use of the word ‘cleverness’ is ambiguous. The artist, Giotto is clever because he was an artist who was able to convey this. But the second meaning is that the priest is clever in commercialising, and using the history of St Francis, to make money. Word choice ‘explanation’: The priest has been referring to the message of God as something to be ‘explained’ to those ‘less than’ the priest himself. Free verse emphasises “cleverness” - a word which is cold and intellectual rather than reflecting the caring and compassionate ideals of St Francis.

81. MacCaig uses an extended metaphor to describe the group of tourists. He compares them following the priest for his speech to chickens pecking at grain. “A rush”: word choice suggests there are a large number of tourists and that they are travelling at speed. They have no individuality / personality as they are a collective ‘rush’. This is in stark contrast to the beggar described in such detail in the opening stanza. “clucking contentedly” – the first part of the extended metaphor. The word choice of “clucking” is onomatopoeic and makes them sound foolish and therefore suggests MacCaig’s disapproval. “Contentedly” also suggests a lack of thought on their part. They are happy to see and listen to what they are shown but do not fully engage with the biblical stories of the frescoes or the example of St Francis. Connotations of smugness. The alliteration of “clucking contentedly” suggests the sound of chickens clucking which reinforces the foolish impression of the tourists.

82. “Fluttered”, word choice develops the chicken metaphor and again suggesting frantic and foolish action. Fluttered suggests they are light and insubstantial The capitalisation in “the Word” shows that the narrator is referring to “the Word of God” i.e. the Bible and its teachings. This suggests the power that the priest has over the tourists – they are looking to him to provide “God” to them in the way that a chicken would expect to be fed. Yet the priest is not challenging them to take action, merely allowing them to look at and enjoy their opulent surroundings. The word “grain” also makes the spiritual nourishment they receive seem insubstantial. This image works as a comparison of the priest to St Francis, “speaker to birds”. Yet, through the use of word choice to make the tourists appear silly, it is clearly an ironic comparison. The priest is not following St Francis’s example of love and kindness if he is ignoring the beggar.

83. The metaphor suggests that the beggar’s body is as holy and worthy of respect as the great church, however the tourists have “passed” him by. In this metaphor the poet is pointing out the irony of the tourists worshipping the building but ignoring the man when, according to the bible, they are equal. He uses enjambment in his free verse to highlight the word ‘passed’ showing how uncaring and unsympathetic the tourists are to his hardships MacCaig follows this with two unpleasant descriptions (“pus” is particularly effective in evoking a disgusted response from readers as it is associated with ill health) Lopsided/higher than his head reinforces the visible difference He uses a list of the beggar’s deformities to highlight his suffering and repetition of “whose” to personalise his plight and force the reader to see him as a person worthy of attention.

84. We are set up to expect something harrowing to follow “whose lopsided mouth/” but instead the emphasis falls on “Grazie”, Italian for “thank you” showing gratitude. The simile compares the voice of the dwarf to that of a child speaking to their mother. The relationship between child and its mother has connotations of love, innocence, caring and compassion; all things which the dwarf has been denied. This makes the reader feel pity for the dwarf. The narrator makes clear that though the dwarf’s body is deformed and ugly, his soul is not. He is grateful, “sweet” and childlike. The narrator is being critical of the superficiality of the church and visitors to the church. They worship beauty (the grand building, the Giotto frescoes) and ignore what they find unpleasant to look at. This final simile makes the narrator’s condemnation of the scene he sees clear. He compares the dwarf saying “grazie” to a bird speaking to St Francis. This reminds the reader of St Francis being “brother / of the poor, talker with birds”. The narrator is pointing out that St Francis would have spoken to and helped the dwarf. The grand church built in his “honour” is not an appropriate tribute to St Francis as it distracts people from following his example rather than encouraging them.

85. Learning Intention: Today we are examining the main themes of the poem So that I can: Understand the deeper message in the poetry and begin to trace the common themes throughout MacCaig’s work for the final question Success Criteria: I can identify the themes in the poem and comment on how MacCaig expresses them to the reader.

86. Poverty is also a prominent theme. The existence of poverty in a world which has built great monuments (like the Basilica of St Francis) suggests a fundamental imbalance within society - the chasm that exists between those with money and those without. The speaker’s suggestion that the sight of the ruined man outside the church is unremarkable to most reveals the extent of this apathy. Another important irony, of course, is that the beggar sits against the magnificent backdrop of the church built to honour St Francis, who dedicated his life to the poor.

87. Society’s definition of beauty a) Why do you think that the physical appearance of the dwarf would put people off helping him? b) In most societies people are judged by their outward appearance. Explain whether or not the priest and the tourists have judged the dwarf in this way. Use quotations to support your answer. c) Describe society’s general attitude towards disability. d) Explain in detail the point MacCaig is trying to make about our attitudes towards people who are perceived to be different from the norm.

88. The selfishness of society and their attitude towards the ‘other’ is explored on a very evident level – outside a grand and very beautiful church that is dedicated to a man who loved the poor, a dwarf begs for cash while tourists wilfully pay to see the church. The comment here is also about the hypocrisy of us as humans and how we are only attracted to that which is appealing, rather than real.

89. Hypocrisy One of MacCaig’s main themes is the hypocrisy of the church and the fact that its teachings aren’t always followed by those who preach it.

90. MacCaig uses CONTRAST to highlight this discrepancy between thought and action.There are many important contrasts in the poem. Try to see if you can think of any to add to the table in your workbook. The ugly beggar The beautiful church

91. The ugly beggarThe beautiful church The living beggarThe dead Saint The actions of St. FrancisThe actions of the modern church What the priest teachesHow the priest acts The beggar’s outer uglinessThe beggar’s inner beauty

92. Contrast between the ugly, deformed beggar and the elaborate church he is sitting in front of. This emphasizes the ugliness of the beggar and makes him seem even more grotesque Contrast between the actions of St Francis and the actions of religious people in the modern world. His teachings have not been followed and the dwarf has been labelled as a freak and isolated from society and charity Contrast between what the priest preaches and what he practices he scattered the grain of the Word but did not eat it himself. He missed the message of love thy neighbour in the Bible Contrast between the dwarf's appearance and reality. The sweet voice demonstrates that the beggar is, in some way, good despite all of the prejudgments made about him by the priest and the tourists

93. The dwarf represents an opportunity for the Church and its members to live out the message and example of St. Francis, yet they ignore him. The priest and the Giotto frescoes give the tourists only entertainment, rather than offering a spiritual message that has an effect on them. Though ‘Assisi’ is a description of a specific incident it conveys a general criticism of the Church and churchgoers. MacCaig calls attention to the ironic injustice that the Church and churchgoers often place more importance and spend more money on church buildings, pretty pictures and dead saints than on following the message of Christ and the example of the saints, like St Francis, by helping the poor and the needy.

94. You will now sit a practice textual analysis paper. The questions are similar to the ones you will encounter in the exam. You will have 45 minutes to answer ALL the questions. It will be marked out of 12*. (*Because this is the first poem that you have studied you will not be expected to answer the final question but it has been left in the paper to allow you to become familiar with the overall structure of the paper)