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Assisi
Jun 7, 2009 18:34:25 GMT
Post by hollis on Jun 7, 2009 18:34:25 GMT
"The grain of the word." what does this mean? what actually is the grain? The Grain is the stuff the priest is saying about St. Francis' message. It's 'grain' because it's not substantial. The idea is he's throwing pieces of information about everything in all directions, but not thinking about what he's saying, or 'eating' (taking the message in) himself.
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Assisi
Jun 7, 2009 18:39:23 GMT
Post by hollis on Jun 7, 2009 18:39:23 GMT
"This simile shows the final feelings of the speaker towards the beggar. Firstly this shows the reader as someone who means what they say. We know this as he is compared to a child and children are very honest. The beggar is better than the priest and the tourists as he is honest and means what he says however the priest and the tourists are disingenuous as anything they have said has been superficial. " i just wrote this as an explantion for the quote "said Grazie in a voice as sweet/as a childs" but im not sure it makes sense. ive said that the speaker is someone who means what they say like a child but is it not the beggar who is supposed to be compared to a child :S It's the beggar who says it. So it's a comparison between the beggar and a child, but it's the speaker who notes this, and he describes the way the beggar says it, so it's his emotions.
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Assisi
Jun 7, 2009 19:16:18 GMT
Post by kieran blake on Jun 7, 2009 19:16:18 GMT
this is I disagreeisi essay mr hollis
Assisi essay
‘Assisi’ is a poem by Norman Maccaig that focuses on the churches ignorance of the message of St Francis, and the irony of their excess. The poem concerns a beggar outside a church dedicated to St Francis. A priest and tourists are talking about St Francis, but ignoring the beggar. In this essay Maccaig uses different techniques such as imagery, enjambment and alliteration to show his anger at the situation of the poem.
The opening of the poem has the speaker describing the beggar sitting outside the church. He uses inhuman and negative words to describe the beggar. Through this description the reader can see the poet’s emotion and who it is aimed at. Firstly, Maccaig uses alliteration to describe the beggar “Sat slumped like a half - filled sac” This simile emphasises that the beggar is not quite complete and god has given up half way through creating him. This creates an image that he is flopped over like a half filled sac. Maccaig is angry at god because god has made a mistake in creating this person, and ‘half filled’ suggests that god has given up on him. The second technique that Maccaig uses to describe the beggar “On tiny twisted legs” This emphasises that the beggar is dwarf like and not normal. It shows that his physical appearance and the beggars size. It shows that the poets negative attitude. The alliteration highlights this. Maccaig then juxtaposes the beggar with the church he is sitting outside of. The church was built in honour of St Francis. “The three tiers of churches” The choice of word ‘tiers’ shows that there is a high level of skill and size and the structure of the tier and has contrasts with the beggar, who is almost broken! At the end of the first stanza Maccaig uses irony to emphasis the beggar’s condition “Over whom / he had the advantage / of not being dead yet” Maccaig uses enjambment to highlight this irony and to create a punch line at the end of the stanza. The beggar does not have any advantage over St Francis, with the only exception being his poor life, which isn’t really an advantage. This shows black humour to create a punch line at something that isn’t funny. In the second stanza, Maccaig shifts his focus from the beggar and the church to the tourists and priest entering the church. Maccaig thinks the tourists are just animals and they are interested in the pictures but are not taking in the whole message behind the church. Maccaig uses alliteration and onomatopoeia to convey this. “Clucking contentedly” The onomatopoeic use of ‘Clucking’ suggests the tourists are not making sense and they are all talking at the same time, drowning out each other. They are also following just like chickens and are acting mindlessly. They are not paying any attention and are not taking in any information. The use of alliteration makes this stand out. The repetition of the‘d’ sound is humorous and shows Maccaigs feelings towards the tourists. This also shows that Maccaig finds the tourists something to be mocked. The word choice of ‘contentedly’ suggests that the tourists are in a comfort zone and are enjoying the tour, but are not thinking on any deeper level. The poet sees the priest as hypocritical and is not acting as a priest, but a tour guide. He also is trying to show off his church. Maccaig uses a metaphor to continue the idea of feeding chickens. “He scattered / the grain of the word” Maccaig describes the message of St as ‘the word’. The word ‘scattered’ shows that he is just throwing out info left, right and centre and is not expecting anyone to take in any information. By the priest not eating his words. This shows he is shallow and isn’t talking in the real message of St Francis. In the final stanza, Maccaig shifts his attention back from the tourists to the beggar. The speaker’s emotions have changed from being negative about the beggar. To start, he thinks him as a real person. Firstly, Maccaig uses a metaphor to describe the beggar. “It was they who had passed / the ruined temple outside” The word ‘ruined’ suggests that his structure is broken and damaged. Also as time has gone by no one cares about him anymore and he is forgotten. The word ‘temple’ has several connotations. Firstly the idea of a ‘temple’ is a place for worship and dedication. This is important because the body is like a temple. Secondly the tourists are not paying any attention to the beggar but are only interested in the church. The tourists are contradicting the message of St Francis. ‘Temple’ also relates to the speakers changing attitudes. Despite the beggar having a grotesque appearance, he still has a soul and there is a human underneath his appearance. ‘Temple’ relates to it being the frame of a human. Finally the speaker relates the beggar with a child at the end of the poem. Both the beggar and the child could be described as dependant and innocent. “Said ‘Grazie’ in a voice / as sweet / as a child’s” This simile shows the final feelings of the speaker towards the beggar. Firstly he means what he says. He is compared to a child and they are known for being honest, therefore this shows that the beggar is an honest, genuine person. However the comparison to a child also has negative connotations. They are both dependant because a child relies on their mother and the beggar relies on people to give him money. This leaves the poem on a positive and negative tone. In conclusion, it is clear to see that Maccaig uses various techniques to show his anger and pity at the scene conveyed in the poem. Through such techniques as imagery, word choice and irony the message of the poem is clear; Maccaigs message is for us to not make big grand churches when there are homeless people sitting outside with no money. Instead of making the church, we share the money with the homeless people.
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Assisi
Jun 7, 2009 19:18:29 GMT
Post by kieran blake on Jun 7, 2009 19:18:29 GMT
sorry i meant this is I disagreeis essay sorry haha
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Assisi
Jun 7, 2009 19:58:11 GMT
Post by hollis on Jun 7, 2009 19:58:11 GMT
Thanks, Kieran.
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Assisi
Jun 7, 2009 21:15:17 GMT
Post by Bonny on Jun 7, 2009 21:15:17 GMT
I was just wondering .. well for my first quote i have done 'with his hands on backwords' then i've done 'sat slumped like a half filled sack' then 'three tiers'
on the very first page of the website (assisi section) it say 4 quotes u should have done for the 1st and 2nd stanza and i've only done one of them so are the ones i said i've done right?
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Assisi
Jun 7, 2009 21:20:35 GMT
Post by nicholas fraser on Jun 7, 2009 21:20:35 GMT
my printer and my spell check is not working dont know why
ASSISI
‘Assisi’ is a poem by Norman MacCaig which focues on a churches ingorence of the message of St.Franceis and the irony of their excess.This peom concerns of a beggar sitting outside a church dedicated to St.Francis but ingnoring the beggar. the priestis acting as a tour guide instead of being a holy man and not helping the beggar . MacCaig uses different techniques such as irony , enjambment and contrast to show his anger. The openiing of the poem has the speaker useing the beggar outside the cathedral by the positions of him and the sizes .Through this dscription the reader can see the poet’s anger at God for creating him . Firstly MacCaig uses Imagery to describe the beggar ‘slumped like a half filled sack’. poor and the beggar is outside it. This simile shows that he is incomplete, that is why MacCaig is angry at God . This brings attention that he is sitting lifless.Also shows similarities to his phisiical apperence . MacCaig then contrasts the beggar with St.Francis and his church.The church was built for the poor and the beggar is outside it. ‘the three teirs of churches’ The teir suggests that it is big grand and massive in scale,unlike the beggar.The irony is about he is sitting outside the church andthe church was made for the poor,yet the beggar is in a poorer state than the church.In the secind stanza MacCiag shifts his foucus from the beggar and the church to the tourists and the priests entering the church . Mac Caig shows his attiutude towards the tourists by being very unpleasent and comparing them to animals . The two techniquies that he uses to do this are otomatopeia and alleteration. ‘Clucking contentedly’ This onomatopoeia use of ‘clucking’ suggests that they are takling and not making much secnce . Mac Caig is saying they are following each other and not talking in the infomation MacCaig also uses alliteration to make the words stand out making them humoraus and maiking fun of the tourists. The words choise ’contendly’ suggests the tourists are enjoying the tour and not considering any of the infomation,felling quuite confortable in thier pack. The poet sees the priest as hypocatal and showing off as a tour guide when he should be helping thee beggar . MacCaig uses a metaphor to continue the image of feeding chickens ‘He’s scattered the grain the word’ .This show that he is not thinking about what he is talking about ‘Scatter’ suggets he spreading peices of information randomly to the tourists. In the final stanza MacCaig shifts his attention from the tourists to the beggar.In the final stanza the speakers emotions have changed towards the beggar.At the start of thee poem he saw him as nit human and by the final stanza he sees hiim as on ok guy .Firstly MacCaig usues a metaphor to describe the beggar . ‘It was they who had possed the ruined temple outside’ Thhe choise off ‘ruined ‘ suggets that he is broken ,old and damaged and shows he has not been scared for ‘temple’ has sereial connotations.A Temple is a place of worship but the tourists are worshiping the church and not listining to st francis message .Secondly ’temple relates to the speakers changing hos attuide by seeing under all the grotest . Fianly the speaker relates thebeggar to a child at the end of the poem both beggar and the child share somr charachteristics wich are inocent and independent said grazie in a voice as sweet as a childs This simile shows the final feeling of the speakers towards the beggar. The beggar is a genuine person by saying what he means by when the tourist gave him something he said grazie.The conection between the child and the beggar is that they are both independent by a child needing its mum or dadd to feed it and the beggar realises on people to give him money . The sort of tone that finishes the poem is a negitie one as he is stuck like that for ever.
By Nicholas Fraser
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Assisi
Jun 7, 2009 21:52:42 GMT
Post by kirstieee on Jun 7, 2009 21:52:42 GMT
ok thanks, so do i just change the bit that says "Firstly this shows the reader as someone who means what they say." to shows the beggar as someone who means what they say ?
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Assisi
Jun 8, 2009 17:59:02 GMT
Post by beckiedoust on Jun 8, 2009 17:59:02 GMT
Completed my esssay (: i think, i may have missed some bits out but i can fill them in when i know what they are , and i wasn't in class today. So i'll get my essay into you before reggi tomorow.
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Assisi
Jun 11, 2009 11:15:45 GMT
Post by cult-na-zan on Jun 11, 2009 11:15:45 GMT
i've messed up lol sorry will get it all finished and in asap. :S have'nt actually been able to get anything done these past few days though srry been reli busy and i couldnt turn up to parents evening something important came up hope it didnt put you out or anything :]:]
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Assisi
Jun 14, 2009 12:28:39 GMT
Post by friends on Jun 14, 2009 12:28:39 GMT
I can't find any books that will give me evidence on abortion and i have looked through a couple of newspapers too, but I can't seem to find anything. I have used the internet for a couple of pieces. Could I go to the library tomorrow a bring up the books to class that I used for some of my evidence when we were in the library last? Catriona
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Assisi
Jun 14, 2009 13:13:05 GMT
Post by caitlin on Jun 14, 2009 13:13:05 GMT
see for the homework. have we just to find like facts and stuff for the argument and against the argument? i have 2 facts and a quote that is for the argument and it disputes what people are saying about it slows other students work rate down! is this ok???
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Assisi
Jun 14, 2009 13:52:52 GMT
Post by ashleyy on Jun 14, 2009 13:52:52 GMT
can i change my thing from size zero models to are fastfoods killing us ? cos i can't find anything
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Assisi
Jun 14, 2009 15:47:35 GMT
Post by hollis on Jun 14, 2009 15:47:35 GMT
Catriona - that's fine. Caitlin you need 5 pieces for each side, and Ashley, that's a good idea.
Go go go!
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Assisi
Jun 15, 2009 10:41:18 GMT
Post by hollis on Jun 15, 2009 10:41:18 GMT
Thus endeth this area.
You're S4 now, please move into that section! Discursive thread open in there.
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