Teaching and Studying "Assisi"

For educators and students engaging with Norman MacCaig's "Assisi", there are several approaches and activities that can enhance understanding and appreciation of the poem.

1. Close Reading: Encourage students to analyze the poem line by line, paying attention to word choice, imagery, and literary devices. This can help uncover the layers of meaning in the text.

Example: Analyze the metaphor of the beggar as a "ruined temple" and discuss its implications.

2. Historical Context: Explore the historical and religious context of Assisi and St. Francis. This can provide valuable background for understanding the poem's setting and themes.

3. Comparative Analysis: Compare "Assisi" with other MacCaig poems like "Basking Shark", "Aunt Julia", or "Visiting Hour" to identify common themes and stylistic elements.

4. Thematic Discussion: Organize debates or discussions around the poem's key themes, such as religious hypocrisy, social responsibility, and human dignity.

5. Creative Response: Encourage students to write their own poems or short stories inspired by the themes or style of "Assisi".

Highlight: Students could write from the perspective of the beggar, a tourist, or the priest to explore different viewpoints.

6. Visual Representation: Ask students to create visual art pieces that represent key images or themes from the poem.

7. Performance: Have students perform dramatic readings of the poem, emphasizing its tone and rhythm.

8. Modern Connections: Discuss how the poem's themes relate to contemporary issues of inequality, religious institutions, and social responsibility.

9. Language Analysis: Focus on MacCaig's use of figurative language, particularly his vivid and sometimes unsettling imagery.

Vocabulary: Analyze MacCaig's choice of words like "dwarf", "slumped", and "twisted" to describe the beggar.

10. Essay Writing: Assign analytical essays exploring the poem's themes, structure, or comparisons with other works.

By employing these varied approaches, teachers can help students engage deeply with "Assisi", fostering critical thinking skills and a nuanced understanding of poetry analysis.

Analysis and Themes

Norman MacCaig's "Assisi" poem is a powerful critique of religious hypocrisy and societal indifference. Through vivid imagery and sardonic tone, MacCaig explores several key themes:

1. Religious Hypocrisy: The poem contrasts the opulent church, built in honor of St. Francis (known for his vows of poverty), with the suffering beggar outside. This juxtaposition highlights the disconnect between religious teachings and practices.

Example: The church's focus on art and tourists while ignoring the beggar exemplifies this hypocrisy.

2. Societal Indifference: The tourists and priest in the poem seem oblivious to the beggar's plight, representing broader societal apathy towards suffering.

3. Physical Suffering and Human Dignity: MacCaig's detailed descriptions of the beggar's deformities emphasize his physical suffering, while his expression of gratitude ("Grazie") highlights his retained humanity.

4. Appearance vs. Reality: The contrast between the beautiful frescoes inside the church and the harsh reality outside underscores this theme.

5. The Power of Language and Imagery: MacCaig uses various literary devices to create a vivid and impactful poem:

Highlight: Metaphors (e.g., "ruined temple"), similes (e.g., "slumped like a half-filled sack"), and alliteration (e.g., "tiny twisted") contribute to the poem's powerful imagery.

6. Critique of Tourism and Superficial Spirituality: The poem suggests that the tourists are more interested in the spectacle of the church than its spiritual meaning or social responsibilities.

In conclusion, "Assisi" serves as a powerful commentary on the gap between religious ideals and real-world practices, challenging readers to consider their own responses to suffering and inequality. The poem's themes resonate beyond its specific setting, inviting reflection on broader societal issues and personal responsibilities.

Stanza 1 (continued): The Church's Grandeur

The second part of the first stanza in Norman MacCaig's "Assisi" poem shifts focus from the beggar to the imposing church structure behind him. This juxtaposition serves to highlight the stark contrast between the beggar's misery and the church's opulence.

Quote: "Outside the three tiers of churches built in honour of St Francis"

The imagery of "three tiers of churches" conveys the grandeur and scale of the religious structure. This description creates a vivid picture of a large, ornate building that towers over the small, deformed beggar.

Highlight: The contrast between the magnificent church and the suffering beggar outside emphasizes the poem's themes of hypocrisy and inequality.

MacCaig introduces an element of irony by mentioning St. Francis, known as the "brother of the poor." This reference underscores the disconnect between the church's teachings and its actions.

Definition: St. Francis of Assisi - A Catholic friar known for his vows of poverty and his compassion for the poor and animals.

The poet's tone becomes sarcastic when he mentions that the beggar has "the advantage of not being dead yet" over St. Francis. This enjambment creates a pause that emphasizes the poet's critical attitude towards the situation.

Vocabulary: Enjambment - The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause.

This stanza effectively sets up the central conflict of the poem: the disparity between religious ideals and real-world practices, as exemplified by the contrast between the grand church and the suffering beggar.