Assisi - Norman MacCaig

Question 1

Dwarf

Answer 1

diminished, undersized, reduced

Question 2

Hands on backwards

Answer 2

conveys impression of an inanimate doll or puppet

Question 3

Slumped

Answer 3

Suggests his inability to support himself

Question 4

Half filled (sack)

Answer 4

suggests worthlessness as it is not fully functional

Question 5

The sibilance/alliteration of sat slumped like a half filled sack

Answer 5

slows the pace to

emphasise his disabilities and highlight their overwhelming impact.

Question 6

alliteration in tiny twisted legs

Answer 6

highlights the useless nature of his legs

which are too weak to fulfil their purpose

Question 7

sawdust

Answer 7

sawdust’ suggests that he is not flesh and blood but filled with
worthless stuffing

Question 8

in honour of St Francis

Answer 8

connotations of respect and worship conveying his

character and standing

Question 9

brother of the poor

Answer 9

demonstrates his kinship and closeness with

those less fortunate than himself

Question 10

talker with birds

Answer 10

highlights his humble nature

Question 11

how clever it was of giotto

Answer 11

sarcastic tone highlights the priests patronising demeanour in the attempt to demonstrate that he is actually intellectually superior

Question 12

illiterate

Answer 12

implies that the priest believes other people are unenlightened unlike him

Question 13

suffering/ of his son

Answer 13

ironic use suggests that the priest is indifferent to the suffering of the beggar thus showing his hypocrisy

Question 14

repetition of cleverness/explanation

Answer 14

creates a tone of cynicism to convey the poet’s conclusion are not what the priest intended on them to be - making him completely devoid of humanity and therefore a complete contrast to St Francis

Question 15

the extended metaphor comparing the tourists to chickens

Answer 15

creates the impression that they are mindless and happy to be led by others - blind to reality - similar to the blind obedience chickens exhibit

Question 16

It was they who had passed

Answer 16

Shows the indifference of the tourists to the real life suffering - suggesting hypocrisy

Question 17

imagery of ruined temple

Answer 17

creates sympathy for the beggar as a temple being sacred, divine place implies the beggar is pure and has inner beauty even though his outer appearance doesn’t show it

Question 18

eyes wept pus

Answer 18

grotesque description shocks the reader into fully appreciating the pitiful reality of the beggars life

Question 19

contrast in voice as sweet

Answer 19

unexpected quality - serves to emphasise subjects innocence and virtue

Question 20

Reference to bird and St Francis (good for conclusion questions)

Answer 20

concludes that in the character of the beggar, we are closer to the teachings of the saint than in any of the priest’s actions