Assisi Flashcards
“The dwarf.”
The word choice instantly dehumanises him. He is judging the dwarf for his deformity which creates the image of a poor man looked down upon due to being a dwarf. By making him seem less human it shows MacCaig has no compassion for him.
“Sat, slumped like a half filled sack.”
The hissing sound of the ‘s’ alliteration suggests disgust. The simile is comparing the dwarf to a sack which emphasises his deformity as it shows he bent in half. The simile also compares the sack to the dwarfs mentality he is disheartened and hopeless.
“Hands on backwards”
The metaphor emphasises the dwarfs deformity and dehumanises him. It suggest the dwarf is in pain and also shows he is begging or praying for help.
“On tiny twisted legs from which sawdust might run”
The irony shows the dwarf is so weak he can’t run away from his poverty or his problems. The ‘t’ tutting alliteration suggests disappointment. The tone of the poet is sarcastic which emphasises the severity of the dwarfs deformity and his lack of hope.
“Outside the three tiers of churches”
“Outside” emphasises the dwarfs us an outsider to the church. He has been marginalised from the church. There is also the contrast of the elegant and beautiful church and the poor ugly dwarf. This shows how unbalanced society is.
“Over whom he had the advantage of not being dead yet.”
The use of “yet” shows that death is inevitable and the dwarf will one day suffer the same fate of St.Francis. It’s ironic as the poet is suggesting the dwarf may be better of dead. There is again a contrast of the dead saint and living beggar.
“A priest explained how clever it was of Giotto.”
The word ‘explained’ suggests the priest is acting as a tour guide. This shows the priest doesn’t practice what he teaches as the priest should be humble and caring but he just thinks himself superior to Giotto.
“Of God and the suffering of His Son.”
The double alliteration of ‘g’ and ‘s’ draws our attention to the true message the church should be sending. It also further suggests the priest is narcissistic and hypocritical.
“I understood the explanation and the cleverness.”
Tone of the poem has changed towards anger as the poet takes a breath to show that he believes the dwarf to be closer to God than the priest. Shows how the poet sees through the priests desperate want and interests in attention and money. It also suggest the priest doesn’t practice what he teaches
“It was they who passed the ruined temple outside”
‘They’ refers to the tourist and priest who are just speeding past the poor and broken dwarf begging for help outside. This emphasises the priests narcissism as he lacks the will to care for the ruined beggar even though he is a man of God.
