Norman MacCaig Assisi Flashcards
“The dwarf with his hands on backwards sat slumped”
Stanza 1
It gives the reader the idea that the beggar is inhumane and that they have an obvious physical disabilities.
Theme- plight of the poor.
“Like a half-filled sack”
Stanza 1
It shows that the beggar is sitting collapsed on them self almost scarecrow like, and they’re too weak to hold the self up.
Theme- plight/isolation of the disabled.
“On tiny twisted legs”
Stanza 1
It implies the beggars legs are deformed to the point that they are twisted and weak beneath him.
Theme- plight/isolation of the disabled.
“From which sawdust might run”
Stanza 1
Following on the idea that the beggar is very scarecrow like and doesn’t have the ability to hold himself up and he could easily fall apart.
Theme- plight/isolation of the poor.
“Outside the three tiers of churches built in honour of St.Francis”
Stanza 1
It compares the wealth and elegance of the big sturdy impressive church, built for the helper of the poor, to the small and weak beggar who people chose to ignore.
Theme-churches,religion and irony.
“Brother of the poor, talker with the birds, over whom he had advantage of not yet being dead.”
Stanza 1
This implies that the beggars only advantage over St.Francis is not being dead. This implies that the beggar is living through a hard and painful life even though he’s got nothing left to live for.
Theme-plight/isolation of the disabled.
“A priest explained how clever it was of Giotto”
Stanza 2
It’s ironic becáis the priest is explaining how clever it was of Giotto to help the poor whilst being illiterate himself yet the priest is ignoring the beggar. This shows that the priest is a hypocrite.
Theme- irony/hypocrisy.
“To make his frescoes tell stories that would reveal to the illiterate the goodness of God”
Stanza 2
The priest is good the tourists attention by telling them the history of the art, this takes the attention away from the beggar. He is teaching people this things he’s not doing himself.
Theme- irony/hypocrisy.
“Suffering of his son”
Stanza 2
This implies the suffering that took place for people to be able to live happily yet people are choosing to ignore what they have taught.
Theme- plight of the poor.
“The explanation and the cleverness. I understood”
Stanza 2
MacCaig shows he understands what the priest is doing and the hypocrisy involved. To make the reader fully realise what MacCaig is witnessing.
Theme- irony/hypocrisy.
“A rush of tourists clucking contentedly,”
Stanza 3
MacCaig implies he disapproves of their “blind” ignorance and willingness to follow the priests every word and failing to see what’s actually happening around them.
Theme- hypocrisy.
“Fluttered after him as he scattered the grain of the word”
Stanza 3
This implies that the priest is a hypocrite and is just as ignorant as the tourist as he is ignoring the tourist and failing to do what he is teaching others about.
Theme-irony/hypocrisy.
“They who passed the ruined temple outside”
Stanza 3
They are referring to the beggar as a “ruined temple” as he hasn’t been cared for and has been ignored by the person who should be caring for the poor. The beggar is outside the church of St.Francis where the poor are meant to feel safe and cared for yet the beggar is left ignored.
Theme- hypocrisy and plight of the poor.
“Whose eyes wept pus”
Stanza 3
It makes us all feel sympathy for the beggar which causes you to criticise the people who are ignoring him.
Theme- plight/isolation of the disabled.
“Whose back was higher than his head”
It implies that the beggar is severely disabled to the point he is seen as inhuman, and it’s very obvious he’s in a lot of pain.
Theme- plight/isolation of the disabled.
