a constable calls (heaney)

Question 1

themes

Answer 1

uncertainty
fear

Question 2

theme of uncertainty

Answer 2

never be sure of what his emotions/surroundings are
“his cap was upside down” - sense of turbulence running through his mind
upside down may imply heaney is also upside down and can’t foreshadow what’s coming
maybe because policeman was dangerous or because she’s eyes view of protestants had been tainted by his parent

Question 3

theme of fear

Answer 3

fear brought by accessories of policmen
“staring at the polished holster” - petrified at sight of holster
if he had holster, then he has gun, scared that policmean will turn violent if not get his way
heaney still able to describe policeman’s items very vividly
never been able to evade the fear of event

Question 4

imagery

Answer 4

word “black” displays further sense of fear
black represent evil+death suggesting catholic view of protestants is sinister+malicious
policman and his props is central image. props often reveal what person is like. in poem described so we dislike policeman

Question 5

personification

Answer 5

“it’s fat black handle grips”
this desc compared the handle grips to heavy person. unattractive desc

“the pedal treads hanging relieved of the boot of the law” - boot metaphor for cruel behaviour of police. pedal relieved when policeman got off showing boys fear

Question 6

personification - “and the bicycle ticked, ticked, ticked

Answer 6

comparing bicycle to clock, specifically in bomb. hatred between police and farmers will lead to explosions and violence

Question 7

assonance

Answer 7

three a vowels reinforce the colour black and the boys fear
“it’s fat black handle grips”

Question 8

consonance

Answer 8

six d sounds in middle of second stanza. this hard sound increases the atmosphere of fear.
an unpleasant tense atmosphere is created by use of sinister s, hard c g b and harsh r consonants

Question 9

onomatopoeia

Answer 9

“and the bicycle ticked, ticked, ticked”

Question 10

tones

Answer 10

distasteful disgusted and sickened
sometimes humorous and mocking
sometimes tense
gloomy and threatening

Question 11

distasteful disgusted and sickened tone

Answer 11

“it’s fat black handle grips” “his slightly sweating hair”

Question 12

sometimes humorous and mocking tone

Answer 12

imagines bike is living thing that hates policeman’s weight “ the pedal treads hanging relieved of the boot of the law”

Question 13

sometimes tense tone

Answer 13

“any other root crops? no…”

Question 14

gloomy and threatening tone

Answer 14

“the bicycle ticked, ticked, ticked”