Brooklyn cop Flashcards
Built like a gorilla
Simile - describes his strong physical appearance by comparing him to a gorilla
But less timid
WC of timid - shy and scared.
Less suggests that he is braver and more powerful than a gorilla - an animal that seemingly embodies those traits
With two hieroglyphs in his face
Metaphor compares his eyes to hieroglyphs - ancient art carved into stark - like hieroglyphs his eyes are carved into something stone like- his face. This emphasises the cops hard and rough appearance
The thin tissue over violence
Metaphor - compares the divide between civility and brutality to being as strong as paper - something easily broken, suggesting that the prevention of violence is very weak
“See you babe”
WC of babe has connotations of intimacy and caring for a romantic partner - this suggests that despite the cops harsh exterior he has a more tender and loving side. He is a real human with hopes and fears.
He hoped it, he truly hoped it
Repetition of “hoped” emphasises the cops desperation to see his wife again after a day doing his dangerous job - further showing his tender side.
He is a gorilla
Metaphor further emphasises the cops brutish and powerful nature
Should he plunge through
• The word choice of “plunge” suggests a sudden impact making a loud and abrupt noise. This gives the impression that violence will be sudden and very loud/ dangerous. This reveals that violence will be almost inevitable for the cop.
Should the tissue tear
Alliteration
• “tissue” and “tear” both start with the letter t, this emphasises the phrase “tissue tear”. This phrase refers to the thin tissue over violence referred to in Stanza one, it compares the prevention of violence to a thin tissue- something seen as very weak, this emphasises the fact that violence is inevitable in the cops work.
Violence, clubbings and gunshots
Word choice all connoting aggression and brutality
With a nightstick
Word choice of nightstick suggest a blunt short weapon used for close quarters attacking. This weapon is a lot less safe than a gun, the fact that the cop brandishes this weapon suggests they enjoy the violence
Whose home is a place
Word choice of home has connotations of safety and reassurance
Have to be
Word choice of be has connotations of inevitability, this suggests that violence will always be present in the human condition
His victims
Suspects/criminals referred to as victims – key to the meaning of the whole poem. The use of ‘victims’ suggests that the cop is as much a creator of violence as a keeper of peace and that those involved in the clubbings and gunshots are in some way innocent.
