Assisi

Question 1

Dwarf

Answer 1

Word Choice: introduces beggar as on object of fiction/almost medieval creature vs human

Question 2

hands on backwards

Answer 2

Word Choice: highlights physical deformity suggests idea that he is wrong

Question 3

sat, slumped

Answer 3

Emphasis his hopelessness
Alliteration of s = shape of beggar conveys hissing of deflated balloon, weakness

Question 4

half-filled sack

Answer 4

Simile: objectifies dwarf compares to something inamite or lifeless suggests something is missing

Question 5

tiny twisted

Answer 5

Alliteration: harsh sound to reflect extent of disfigurement

Question 6

sawdust might run

Answer 6

Idea that the dwarf has nothing inside him further objectifying him

Question 7

outside

Answer 7

Not only literally outside church, he is an outcast to society, unaccepted as a human

Question 8

three tiers

Answer 8

Image of wedding cake suggests wealth and extravagance of church
Also represents the 3 levels in society

Question 9

in honour of St Francis

Answer 9

Irony as St Francis abandoned luxury to help the poor therefore the church doesn’t represent him

Question 10

advantage of not being dead yet

Answer 10

The only good thing about the dwarfs life is that he isn’t dead

Question 11

A priest explained

Answer 11

It’s all words, only tells of the paintings, controls the narrative

Question 12

clever

Answer 12

Priest enjoys appearing more intelligent

Question 13

illiterate

Answer 13

Used in dergotry way to reference those who could not read as ignorant or stupid, priest thinks he is superior

Question 14

the goodness of God and the suffering of His Son

Answer 14

Alliteration: simplified main message of the Church it’s become flashy or a commodity/business like, speaking empty words
Priest preaches without practice

Question 15

I understood the explanation and the cleverness

Answer 15

MacCaig speaking: Tone: sarcastic and bitter
He criticises behaviour of the priest he is only clever at manipulating people and making money

Question 16

rush

Answer 16

Suggests mindlessness and lack of direction in attention

Question 17

clucking contentedly

Answer 17

Talking about nothing of substance, idea of chickens

Question 18

clucking contentedly, fluttered after him as he scattered

Answer 18

Metaphor: compares tourists to chickens, mindless not thinking for themselves

Question 19

the grain of the Word

Answer 19

Priest is a farmer feeding tourists with words

Question 20

they who had passed

Answer 20

MacCaig is accusing tourists and priest walking by the dwarf

Question 21

ruined temple

Answer 21

Metaphor: reference to dwarf despite physical deformities he has a beautiful heart
In terms of the Church something holy has been destroyed by corruption

Question 22

whose eyes, wept pus, whose back was higher than his head

Answer 22

List: emphasises the amount of physical deformities/challenges of dwarf, creates repulsive image of dwarf

Question 23

Grazie

Answer 23

Word Choice: Italian for thank you, shows manners and gratitude

Question 24

as sweet as a child’s

Answer 24

Simile: suggests purity, innocence and vunerability of dwarf shoes him in a positive

Question 25

bird’s when it spoke

Answer 25

dwarf’s inner beauty is contrasted to his phyiscal appearance
he is likened to a bird, St Francis is the patron saint of animals

Question 26

to St Francis

Answer 26

repeated idea of St Francis
reminds reader of the true message of the church and that St Francis was a true representation of it
highlights hypocricity of the church

Question 27

Difference between dwarf and church

Answer 27

dwarf = unexpectedly beautiful on the inside depsite physical ugliness
church = beautiful on the outside, corrupt on inside