Assisi

Question 1

What are the main themes of the poem

Answer 1

Hypocrisy of the church and ignorance of mankind

Question 2

How does the poem display contrast

Answer 2

Behaviour of St Francis (kind, generous) vs actions of the church (ignorant)

Question 3

How died the poem display loss

Answer 3

Churches loss of St Francis perspective- leading to hypocrisy

Question 4

How does the poem display suffering

Answer 4

Suffering of the beggar

Question 5

How does the poem display relationships

Answer 5

Relationship between church and people

Question 6

How does the poem display symbolism

Answer 6

Dwarf is symbolic of human suffering and human ignorance of suffering

Question 7

Contrast Quotes

Answer 7

“I understood his explanation and cleverness”
“…the ruined temple outside”
“…His Son. I understood”

Question 8

“…His son. I understood”

Answer 8

The caesura creates contrast between 2 POVs. Highlights irony jn priests words and lack of action that he preaches St Francis did. Hypocrisy in preaching about helping others but let’s someone suffer outside

Question 9

“…the ruined temple outside”

Answer 9

Metaphor comparing beggar to neglected place of worship. Church should help restore but has left him to suffer unlike their grand church

Question 10

“tiny twisted legs”

Answer 10

Alliteration- deformity, unnaturalness, lack of ability to walk, helps to suggest dwarf is less than human, detached description shows the way tourists have ignored him

Question 11

“Three tiers of churches built”

Answer 11

Contrasts with dwarf: elegance, majestic, beauty, hunts at the irony that St Francis would rather Christian’s help the dwarf than build a church in his honour. Theme of hypocrisy of the church is introduced