Brooklyn cop Flashcards
Analyse “hieroglyphs in his face”
The writer uses symbolism and metaphor to describe the cop.
Just as “hieroglyphs” are hard to read so the expression and emotions of the cop are difficult to read, this is because he is obligated to hide all his emotions and to eliminate all vulnerability.
This can all be used to describe scars that he probably acquired because of all the violence he is exposed to.
analyse “built like a gorilla”
the writer uses simile to describe the cop as muscular, strong, arrogant and intimidating. A gorilla’s rage is compared to the cop.
analyse “ his victims”
the writer uses this rhetorical question to emphasise that the cop is also responsible for the violence, he has to be as violent as criminals despite being a cop in order to survive.
it is also used to describe police violence and brutality, innocent people are killed by the police, the cop also has his victims.
analyse “should the tissue tear”
the writer uses this metaphor to illustrate how the cop is trying to prevent the tissue- (violence) from tearing.
if the tissue should tear, it would be chaotic for humanity.
analyse “thin tissue over violence”
civilization and violence is only separated by a thin tissue
just as tissue is thin and fragile and easy to tear, so the separation between civilized behaviour and violence is very thin. Suggesting that civilization is so close to being engulfed by violence. this shows the purpose of the cops job.
what are the key themes in brooklyn cop?
isolation
fear
violence
human nature
analyse “he hoped it, he truly hoped it”
the repetition makes it clear the vulnerability he hides from his wife. He doesn’t want to upset her with the violent realities of his job, he doesn’t want to worry about if he will live to see another day or get to see his wife again. this highlights the true fears he hides.
what other poems links with brooklyn cop and their themes
. hotel room 12 floor- violence, fear
. assisi- isolation
. basking shark- humanity
. visiting hour- fear of death,
isolation
