assisi

Question 1

connotations of “dwarf”

Answer 1

‘dwarf’ has connotations of reduced/diminished/undersized.

Question 2

what does the writer mean by “hands on backwards” while describing the begger?

Answer 2

‘hands on backwards’ conveys impression of an inanimate doll or puppet. Reinforcing MacCaigs idea that he is more object than man

Question 3

why does Norman McCaig compare the beggar to a “half filled sack”

Answer 3

‘half-filled (sack)’ suggests worthlessness as it is not fully functional. This figure is no longer a man but merely the deformed shell of a human being filled with stuffing.

Question 4

what technique is used in “tiny twisted” and what does it symbolize?

Answer 4

alliteration in ‘tiny twisted’ highlights the useless nature of his legs which are too weak to fulfil their purpose. and to highlight his deformities

Question 5

what is the effect of this sentence?

“….from which sawdust might run”

Answer 5

‘sawdust’ suggests that he is not flesh and blood but filled with worthless stuffing as well as the idea that he is broken

Question 6

what connotations does “honour” have?

Answer 6

‘honour’ has connotations of respect and worship conveying St Francis’ character and standing.

A case could also be made for MacCaig using this in an ironic way to highlight the hypocrisy of the church in relation to St. Francis’ teachings.

Question 7

what effect does describing St Francis as a “brother to the poor” have?

Answer 7

‘brother of the poor’ demonstrates his kinship and closeness with those less fortunate than himself and shows the irony and hypocrisy of the church

Question 8

what does the tone of “explained how clever” highlight about the priest?

Answer 8

sarcastic tone of ‘explained how clever’ highlights the priest’s patronising demeanour/idea of trickery/manipulation of the tourists.

Question 9

what does the priest’s reference to Giotto say about the priest?

Answer 9

reference to Giotto to demonstrate his belief that he was

intellectually superior.

Question 10

what effect does it have when Norman describes the priests teachings as “telling stories”?

Answer 10

 ‘tell stories’ is simplistic and childlike. Contrast to the Giotto reference conveys his self importance/deception

Question 11

illiterate connotations?

Answer 11

‘illiterate’ has pejorative connotations suggesting these people are also unenlightened, unlike him.

Question 12

what can be said about the description “three tiers of churches”?

Answer 12

MacCaig deliberately juxtaposes this pitiful, crooked, pathetic individual against the grand backdrop of the ‘three tiers of churches’

Question 13

“had the advantage of not being dead yet”

what does this quote tell us about the begger

Answer 13

The effect of these lines is to suggest that being alive is the only thing the beggar has in his favour, yet what is really implied is that perhaps it would be better if he were dead rather than being forced to endure this terrible existence.

The final word ‘yet’ has a sinister effect, suggesting that the beggar will not survive this pitiful way of life for much longer.

Question 14

why is it hypocritical of the priest to reference “goodness” and “suffering”

Answer 14

The priest references the goodness and the suffering captured in the priceless frescoes, but seems more impressed with the depiction of these teachings than in actually practising them himself. the priest is also indifferent to the misfortune of the beggar thus highlighting his hypocrisy

Question 15

“I understood the explanation and the cleverness.”

what is the meaning of this line?

Answer 15

It is clear that the speaker is offended by the obvious intellectual pride the priest demonstrates when he discusses Giotto’s work.

Again, the hypocrisy of the Church is revealed through the actions of the guide, since priests are supposed to be humble as well as compassionate. This priest is neither and MacCaig implies that intelligence without kindness has no value.

Question 16

what does the repetition of “cleverness” and “explanation” do?

Answer 16

repetition of ‘explanation/cleverness’ creates a tone of cynicism to convey the poet’s conclusions are not what the priest intended. This makes him seem like a complete contrast to St Francis.

Question 17

recite the poem

Answer 17

The dwarf with his hands on backwards
sat, slumped like a half-filled sack
on tiny twisted legs from which
sawdust might run,
outside the three tiers of churches built
in honour of St Francis, brother
of the poor, talker with birds, over whom
he had the advantage
of not being dead yet.

A priest explained
how clever it was of Giotto
to make his frescoes tell stories
that would reveal to the illiterate the goodness
of God and the suffering
of His Son. I understood
the explanation and
the cleverness.

A rush of tourists, clucking contentedly,
fluttered after him as he scattered
the grain of the Word. It was they who had passed
the ruined temple outside, whose eyes
wept pus, whose back was higher
than his head, whose lopsided mouth
said Grazie in a voice as sweet
as a child’s when she speaks to her mother
or a bird’s when it spoke
to St Francis.

Question 18

‘eyes wept pus’ meaning

Answer 18

‘eyes wept pus’ is a grotesque illustration used to shock the reader into appreciating the pitiful reality of the beggar’s existence

this forces us to examine our own reaction such as disgust, we are no better than tourists.

as well as the image contrasts with the artistic beauty of the frescoes that attract the tourists.

Question 19

what effect does listing the disabilities of the beggar in the last stanza have?

Answer 19

listing of disabilities in lines 22–24 evokes the reader’s sympathy and highlights the extreme nature of the beggar’s difficulties.

Question 20

what effect does the reference to the bird at the end of the poem have on us readers?

Answer 20

reference to bird and St Francis to conclude that in the character of the beggar we are closer to the teachings of the saint than in any of the priest’s actions.

Question 21

what effect does the reference to the beggars voice have?

Answer 21

contrast in ‘voice as sweet’ has an unexpected quality due to its position immediately after the list of ailments. Serves to emphasise subject’s innocence and virtue.

Question 22

what effect does the “grazie” at the end of the poem have on us readers?

Answer 22

reference to beggar’s response of ‘Grazie’ humbles the poet and echoes his wider belief in being grateful for life itself.

Question 23

what is the meaning behind these two lines “clucking contentedly” and “fluttered after him”

Answer 23

the speaker compares them to a flock of chickens clucking contentedly with dumb, blind obedience as they fluttered after him. This disparaging analogy reveals the contempt that the speaker holds for the tourists who, just like the priest, are oblivious to, and unaffected by, the plight of the poor beggar.

Question 24

“grain of the word” meaning

Answer 24

the metaphor of the tourists are as little more than farmyard poultry is extended as the priest is described as leading them by scattering the grain of the Word.

This is a deliberately ironic allusion to the biblical Parable of the Sower. This implies that, while the tourists listen to the priest’s words, their true meaning is lost on them and they defer to the priest unquestioningly just as the Church expects its members to defer to it.

Question 25

” It was they who had passed/the ruined temple outside.” meaning

Answer 25

The syntax of these lines emphasises the word ‘they’ implying that the speaker isnt a part of the group, and that they have very different perspectives and attitudes towards the beggar.

The comparison of the beggar to a place of worship - a ruined temple is especially apt given the specific setting of the poem. A temple is usually something revered and significant, something that was once beautiful. But this church has fallen into disrepair due to neglect, much like the man.