Brooklyn cop key quotes Flashcards
What’s the commonality for Brooklyn cop
In ‘Brooklyn cop’ by Norman Maccaig, Maccaig uses language features to answer question. The poe, leaves us with the question of how easily the cop and society, can slip from civilisation into violence
What are the themes of Brooklyn cop
- isolationism
- human nature
- violence in the city
- loss of civilised behaviour
Key quotes of stanza one Brooklyn cop
“Built like a gorilla” “Less timid” “Steak coloured” “Two hieroglyphs in his face” “Thin tissue over violence” “See you babe” “He hoped it”
Explain the quote “built like a gorilla but less timid”
Simile
-compares cop to a gorilla
-similarities are that a gorilla is often thought as violent, and the cop is being viewed as in the same way
Shows the negative impression of the cop as who is dangerous and emphasises his physical appearance
Explain the quote ‘less timid’
Wc
Connotations of being shy and scared
Emphasises how the cop is less shy than the gorilla
Typically gorillas aren’t though of in this way so emphasises how forceful the cop may be
Explain the quote ‘steak coloured’
Wc
Suggests bloody, meaty and primitive
-suggests cop face is fleshy red
-linking to violence that he sees everyday and is a unpleasant description of him
Explain the quote ‘two hieroglyphs in his face’
Metaphor
Compares the cop eyes with Egyptian hieroglyphs
Similarities are that hieroglyphs are ancient stone carvings that are hard to read, similarity the cops face and emotions can be difficult to read
Cop doesn’t come off as friendly creative a negative impression of him
Explain the quote ‘two hieroglyphs in his face’
Metaphor
Compares the cop eyes with Egyptian hieroglyphs
Similarities are that hieroglyphs are ancient stone carvings that are hard to read, similarity the cops face and emotions can be difficult to read
Cop doesn’t come off as friendly creative a negative impression of him
Explain the quote ‘thin tissue of violence’
Metaphor
-compares the tissue paper to the fragile divide between civilisation and violence
Similarities are that the tissue paper is thin and easily broken similarity the cities violence can break out easily
- shows the violent setting
Explain the quote ‘ see you babe’
Wc
Connotations of cliche endearment to someone you love
Reveals the cop tender side and the love and connection he feels for his wife
Explain the quote “he hoped it”
Repetition of ‘hope’
Fear that the cop may not return home if the violence of the setting defeats him
- shows his tender side and his vulnerable side as because of violence, he may not return
Key quotes of stanza 2 Brooklyn cop
“Should the tissue tear”
“Plunge”
“Gunshots’
Explain the quote ‘should the tissue tear’
Metaphor
Compares the tissue paper to the fragile divide between civilisation and violence
Similarities are they the tissue paper is thin and easily broke similarly the city can break out in violence very easily
-emphasising the violence in the city
Explain the quote ‘plunge’
Wc
Suggests a quick and sudden fall
Shows the aggression and violence that can happen and the cop will find him in places with not much warning
Explain the quote ‘gunshots’
Wc
Suggests violence and aggression
-shows danger of city life and the bad streets that the cop has to patrol
