Brooklyn Cop

Question 1

How does this poem display contrast?

Answer 1

Homelife vs violence if work

Question 2

How does this poem display loss?

Answer 2

Fear of losing family and homelife

Question 3

How does this poem display suffering?

Answer 3

Suffering of victims or emotional suffering of not knowing when violence will strike

Question 4

How does this poem display relationships?

Answer 4

Between the cop and violent city

Question 5

How does this poem display character/surroundings?

Answer 5

American city and gorilla description of cop

Question 6

How does this poem display symbolism?

Answer 6

It doesn’t

Question 7

Contrast quotes

Answer 7

• “he hoped it, he truly hoped it.”
• “He is a gorilla”
• “gorilla with a nightstick,/whose home is a place”

Question 8

“he hoped it, he truly hoped it.”

Answer 8

Repetition emphasises sincerity in words. In contrast to the violent nature of his work he genuinely wishes to go home again and be with family.

Question 9

“He is a gorilla”

Answer 9

Metaphor comparing cop to wild strong animal. Re-iterates previous comparison to make stronger. Contrast between the savage and strong role his plays for his work to the genuine hope of seeing family again.

Question 10

“gorilla with a nightstick,/whose home is a place”

Answer 10

Metaphor comparing cop with his equipment to a savage brutal animal with a weapon. Juxtaposition it with image of home emphasises contrast between his violent work and his sensitive home life.

Question 11

Loss quotes

Answer 11

• “he hoped it, he truly hoped it.”
• “a gorillawith his nightstick/ whos home is a place“
• “He might, this time, never get back to?”

Question 12

“He might, this time, never get back to?”

Answer 12

Parenthesis slows down line to emphasise sympathy for the cop and emphasises the danger he faces, which he may not return from.

Question 13

Suffering quotes

Answer 13

• “Should the tissue tear,”
• “he plunge through/into violence“
• “he walks the sidewalk and the thin tissue over violence.”

Question 14

“Should the tissue tear,“

Answer 14

Metaphor comparing tissue to peace. Suggests fragility of civility in the cops surroundings and how he fears the sudden change into violence and savagery.
Conditional tense suggests uncertainty

Question 15

“he plunge through/into violence“

Answer 15

WC plunge connotes quick sudden drop. Emphasises the speed at which peace turns into violence that cannot be predicted. Highlights cops fear at the sudden change and the unpredictability of him going home.

Question 16

“he walks the sidewalk and the thin tissue over violence.“

Answer 16

Metaphor comparing a sheet off fragile paper to the line between peace and violence in the city. Emphasises the delicate nature of the city and the fragile state of peace that could be broken at any minute.

Question 17

Relationships quotes

Answer 17

• “he walks the sidewalk and the thin tissue over violence.“
• “thick-fleshed, steak-coloured,“
• “Phoebe’s WhamBurger”

Question 18

“thick-fleshed, steak-coloured,“

Answer 18

Stark contrast to delicate tissue suggesting the cop helps keep to together the fragile peace in the city with his strength and authority.
WC raw and uncompromising like cop.

Question 19

Character and surroundings quotes

Answer 19

• “Phoebes WhamBurger”
• “thick-fleshed, steak-coloured,“
• “he walks the sidewalk and the thin tissue over violence.“

Question 20

“Phoebe’s WhamBurger”

Answer 20

WC wham connotes violence in comic strips. In context emphasises the violence within the city that the cop deals with. Even ordinary parts of the city like diners have violence in that he must try to prevent.

Question 21

Themes of Brooklyn Cop

Answer 21

• Thin line between civilisation and savagery in society
• Fragility of peace