Scottish Text - Brooklyn Cop Flashcards
What inspired Brooklyn Cop?
A trip to New York, similar to Hotel Room, 12th Floor.
What societal issue influenced the poem?
Police brutality, especially in response to civil rights protests.
What does the poem explore?
The dangerous, violent world of a New York policeman and the dehumanizing nature of violence.
How is the policeman portrayed?
As both a threatening animal and a vulnerable human being.
What is the effect of the simile ‘Built like a gorilla but less timid’?
It emphasizes the cop’s physical strength and lack of fear.
What do ‘thick fleshed’ and ‘steak-coloured’ suggest?
Toughness, rawness, and possible connotations of violence.
What do his ‘two hieroglyphs that mean trouble’ symbolize?
His unreadable expression, hinting at past violent experiences.
What does ‘the thin tissue over violence’ imply?
Peace is fragile and can be easily torn apart by violence.
What does the repetition of ‘hoped it’ in reference to his farewell to his wife suggest?
His genuine fear that he may not return home.
What does the phrase ‘Should the tissue tear’ signify?
The fragility of peace and how quickly violence can erupt.
What effect does the repetition of ‘what’ create?
Emphasizes the unpredictability and severity of violence.
What is the significance of ‘Phoebe’s Whamburger and Louie’s Place’?
They evoke a sense of an American, possibly criminal, setting.
What does ‘Whamburger’ suggest?
A comic book-style punch sound, reinforcing violence.
What is the effect of the rhetorical question, ‘who would be him’?
Challenges the reader to consider the difficulty of the policeman’s job.
What does ‘gorilla with a nightstick’ reinforce?
His animalistic nature and the brutal force he might have to use.
What is implied by the question, ‘who would be who have to be his victims?’
It raises moral questions about the nature of law enforcement and violence.
How does Brooklyn Cop contrast animalistic and human traits?
The cop is both a violent enforcer and a man with real fears.
What theme does the poem share with Basking Shark?
The blurred line between human civilization and primal violence.
How does the poem connect to Hotel Room, 12th Floor?
Both highlight the violence lurking within a modern city.
What does MacCaig suggest about civilization?
That violence is an ever-present threat, challenging the idea of a civilized society.
