Brooklyn Cop

Question 1

‘Like a gorilla’

Answer 1

This talks about the police officers appearance, he is muscley and powerful

Question 2

‘the thin tissue over violence’

Answer 2

• Contrast, with his hard exterior and his delicate flesh

- tells us chaos is inevitable

Question 3

‘See you, babe’

Answer 3

• he leaves home

- He is scared that he doesn’t return to his wife

Question 4

‘He is a gorilla’

Answer 4

METAPHOR

• He has no personality
• No true emotions and therefore not human but animal

Question 5

‘Hiya, honey’ is no cliche’

Answer 5

• He returns home now

- He is genuinely happy to be back with his wife

Question 6

‘Should the tissue tear’

Answer 6

• Tissue over violence breaks
• Imagery talking about flesh being cut
• He’s unsure of the possibilities that come with violence taking over

Question 7

‘Phoebes whamburger’

Answer 7

• ‘Wham’burger implies violence and uses onomatopoeia to give a comic strip punch effect
• WHAM

Question 8

‘Gorilla with a nightstick’

Answer 8

• He’s a savage, primate

- Police are usually thought of to carry guns not night sticks

Question 9

‘Never get back to?’

Answer 9

• McCaig highlights that police may only feel safe at home

- There are so many threats on duty and he may not be able to get home to his safe haven

Question 10

‘Who have to be his victims?’

Answer 10

RHETORICAL QUESTION

• McCaig is considering two points
• What kind of people mess with the police ?
• What does it take for the police to break the tissue and turn to violence?

Question 11

What is the police officers character like?

Answer 11

• Kind and caring

- He is emotional and vulnerable

Question 12

What other poems of McCaig does ‘Brooklyn Cop’ link to and why?

Answer 12

-Hotel Room 12th Floor, death
-Visiting Hour ,death
-Aunt Julia , death
ALL, HUMAN EXPERIENCE