1. Final Question- Assisi
MacCaig
Final Question- Assisi

2. The Question
Discuss how in Assisi and at least one other poem, MacCaig explores his main ideas through his portrayal of convincing characters.

3. The Question
Discuss how in Assisi and at least one other poem, MacCaig explores his main ideas through his portrayal of convincing characters.

4. At least one other – if struggling to remember enough points for one other poem, a good idea to look at 2 or even 3.
Main ideas- themes: loss, grief, nature, religion, suffering
Convincing characters (you must refer tot his aspect throughout)- Aunt Julia, patient in Visiting Hour

5. Structuring Your Response
Commonality (2 Marks)
Extract (2 Marks)
Elsewhere (6 Marks)

6. Commonality Respond to the question.
Identify and explain the similarity between the two or more poems you will be analysing.
Take a couple of sentences for each poem.
Use linking / comparing phrases ‘Also,’ as well’, ‘Similarly,’

7. Commonality - Example
In ‘Assisi’ MacCaig uses the character of the dwarf to present his idea of the hypocrisy of the church. The dwarf is presented as suffering while a priest ignores him to cater for tourists, suggesting that the modern church is more interested in making money than helping the poor.
Similarly, in Aunt Julia MacCaig uses the character of his aunt to explore his ideas on loss and the importance of nature. Aunt Julia is presented as a powerful individual, who is associated with nature and the traditional island way of life.

8. Extract PEA x 2 Point Evidence (Quotation)
Analysis (Identification and explanation of the effect of a technique)

9. Initially, MacCaig highlights the physical suffering of the dwarf:
‘slumped like a half-filled sack’
This simile suggests that just as a a half- filled sack is incomplete and shapeless, so too the dwarf can be seen to be bent over and unattractive. Also, this comparison de- humanizes the dwarf.
Do this for two different points.

10. Elsewhere
PEA x 4
In ‘Aunt Julia’, MacCaig presents his Aunt as a very strong character:
“Aunt Julia spoke Gaelic very loud and very fast”
The use of repetition helps to convey the sense that MacCaig’s Aunt was an exuberant character. It also highlights his difficulty in understanding her as he did not speak Gaelic as a child, conveying the theme of the difficulty of communication.