Assisi Flashcards
What are the main themes of the poem
Hypocrisy of the church and ignorance of mankind
How does the poem display contrast
Behaviour of St Francis (kind, generous) vs actions of the church (ignorant)
How died the poem display loss
Churches loss of St Francis perspective- leading to hypocrisy
How does the poem display suffering
Suffering of the beggar
How does the poem display relationships
Relationship between church and people
How does the poem display symbolism
Dwarf is symbolic of human suffering and human ignorance of suffering
Contrast Quotes
“I understood his explanation and cleverness”
“…the ruined temple outside”
“…His Son. I understood”
“…His son. I understood”
The caesura creates contrast between 2 POVs. Highlights irony jn priests words and lack of action that he preaches St Francis did. Hypocrisy in preaching about helping others but let’s someone suffer outside
“…the ruined temple outside”
Metaphor comparing beggar to neglected place of worship. Church should help restore but has left him to suffer unlike their grand church
“tiny twisted legs”
Alliteration- deformity, unnaturalness, lack of ability to walk, helps to suggest dwarf is less than human, detached description shows the way tourists have ignored him
“Three tiers of churches built”
Contrasts with dwarf: elegance, majestic, beauty, hunts at the irony that St Francis would rather Christian’s help the dwarf than build a church in his honour. Theme of hypocrisy of the church is introduced
