Task: Choose a Poem Which Has a Sad Atmosphere. Explain How the Poet Creates This Atmosphere

ASSISI

Task: Choose a poem which has a sad atmosphere. Explain how the poet creates this atmosphere and go on to explain how this deepened your understanding of the theme of the poem.

Norman MacCaig’s ‘Assisi’ creates an atmosphere of sadness because of its description of the puppet-like dwarf. MacCaig has used many techniques to create this type of atmosphere, I will examine imagery, contrast, word choice and tone to show how MacCaig built-up this atmosphere of sadness.

At the start of the poem the reader is introduced to a dwarf sitting outside the church. The physically repellent shape of the dwarf : “his hands on backwards” is brought out by contrasting it with the beauty of the church. This makes the reader feel sympathetic towards the dwarf. In my opinion one way in which MacCaig makes this contrast very effective is by showing the appearance of the dwarf in contrast to the church in the first line therefore impacting upon the reader right at the start of the poem.

Not only is the dwarf repellent but he also appears like a puppet: “on tiny twisted legs from which sawdust might run,” This is a very effective simile through whichMacCaig creates the image of the dwarf appearing strange and revolting. MacCaig later tells the reader that the dwarf has only got one advantage “of not being dead yet.” This creates a sense of sadness about the hideous appearance of the dwarf as he is powerless to change his appearance. This helps me to appreciate the poem- as I am made to feel equally powerless by the words MacCaig uses.

MacCaig explores the appearance of the dwarf in contrast to the church. Word choice assists the complexity of the contrast; the word “tiers” suggests the beauty of the church. Tiers shows how grand the church is, as it is similar to a wedding cake, this is implying that it is beautiful. I find the contrast very effective as it makes it easier for me to understand the beauty of the church in contrast to the dwarf. I feel that MacCaig completes this contrast successfully.

Imagery features in the second stanza revealing to the reader the main thing that is wrong inside the church- the priest. The main job for a priest is to help people who are suffering like the dwarf; instead this priest is guiding the tourists round the church. The priest misses the dwarf and his suffering: “A priest explained”. I sense the dwarf symbolises the helpless poor, as he represents the suffering that is still going on throughout the world.

In the second stanza there is a change in tone. The verse opens with irony, there is a priest but he does not show any goodness towards the dwarf. This then changes to sarcasm: “I understood the explanation and the cleverness.” I think that the change in tone is very important as it highlights a change in the dwarf’s and MacCaigs thoughts. This increased my appreciation of the poem as it indicates that the poem is going into another subject n the next stanza.

MacCaig uses word choice in the stanza to describe the tourists who are inside in the church: “A rush of tourists, clucking contentedly,” MacCaig compares the tourists to chickens. The alliteration and the farmyard metaphor assist in the development of the comparison of the tourists to chickens. In my opinion this is a clever way to compare the tourists, as it is a suitable way to compare these kinds of people to a bird. This is very effective and heightens my appreciation of the tourists and the attitude MacCaig has towards the people- anger. There is another example of effective word choice in this stanza, which is: “the ruined temple” where the temple is the body of the soul. I sense this describes the soul of the dwarf leaving his body since the dwarf is still alive. In my opinion this is very effective as it creates the image of the dwarf dying.

The poet continues to use imagery comparing the tourists to chickens. This idea is carried on throughout the stanza with the biblical idea of seed being thrown onto the ground: “fluttered after him as he scattered,” also through alliteration of the tourists “clucking contentedly”. I think this is effective as it is in keeping with the poem centering on the church and the dwarf outside.

A further contrast is used between the outward physical appearance with the inner person who is the dwarf. This creates the idea that the dwarf is unattractive on the outside but has beauty of character. This adds further to the atmosphere of sadness as people ignore him.

I feel that people are still suffering like the disfigured dwarf. I believe these people should not be ignored. I sense that the priest represents those who should be helping; however they have lost sight of their purpose and of what their job is - to help people.

Norman MacCaig’s ‘Assisi’ creates the sadness of the dwarf whose beauty is on the inside rather on the outside. MacCaig successfully manages the sadness and effectively throughout the poem. I believe this poem is very important as it heightens an understanding of the suffering of others.

Word Count: 850