Assisi: Stanza 1

‘Assisi: Stanza 1’

Tone and Mood

• The first stanza sets a solemn and empathetic tone that will persist throughout the poem.
• The stark contrast between the grandeur of the church and the physical deformity of the beggar evokes a sense of injustice and irony, thus evoking sympathy from the reader.

Imagery

• The beggar is described as “twisted like a crooked branch”, which is a simile that vividly communicates the severity of his deformity.
• Contrasting the beggar with the “three tiers” of the church acts as a juxtaposition, highlighting their respective outward appearance and social status.

Speaker’s Perspective

• The narrator’s focus on the beggar rather than the monument suggests a sympathetic and observant eye towards society’s outsiders.
• The phrase “sat, slumped like a half-filled sack” implies an uncomfortable lassitude, representing the speaker’s awareness of the beggar’s plight.

Language

• The “. . . outside the three tiers” indicates the isolation and ostracism of the beggar which is emphasised by the spatial separation.
• Words like “slumped” and “twisted” add a physicality and rawnessto the scene, reinforcing the beggar’s unfortunate condition.

Themes

• The first stanza introduces the important themes of the poem, which are social inequality, compassion, and irony.
• Through the religious undertone set by the setting of the church, themes of hypocrisy and spiritual poverty amid wealth are suggested.

Summary

• The initial stanza of “Assisi” skilfully paints a disheartening scene, underlining the stark disparity between the grandeur of the church and the pitiful state of the beggar. MacCaig employs striking imagery, careful attention to language, and a sympathetic perspective to create a vivid image that touches on themes of social inequality, injustice, and empathy.