'Brooklyn Cop' by Norman MacCaig

Quotes

'like a gorilla'

simile. cop is being compared to a wild animal.

'timid'

word choice. writer implying the cop is more confident than a gorilla.

'thick-fleshed'

metaphor. it is hard to damage the cop with words, he is bulletproof.

'steak coloured'

metaphor. he's been out so much he's tanned all year round.

'two hieroglyphs'

metaphor. people can't read his mood from his eyes.

'babe''honey'

word choice. shows a difference in his character, he has two sides.

'hoped it... hoped it'

repetition. he's putting his life on the line, he wishes to get home to his wife at the end of the day.

'he is a gorilla'

metaphor. MacCaig states that he IS a wild animal.

'plunge'

word choice. the cop is jumping right into fights.

'should the tissue...Louie's Place'

sentence structure. reflects the range of challenges the cop may face.

''what... what'

repetition. suggests uncertainty, the cop doesn't know whats coming.

'whamburger'

symbolism. Has American connotations, it sounds dodgy.

'tissue tear'

word choice. alliteration. suggests sharp pain.

'night stick'

metaphor. a truncheon, a weapon for a cop, siggests very physical violence.

'who would be him...never get back to?'

rhetorical question. challenge the reader, asking whether they'd be able to do the cop's job.

'this time'

word choice. anytime he could be murdered, he doesn't know when.

'and who would be who have to be his victims?'

sentence structure. what kind of people would mess with the cop and what would they have to do to get hurt?

'victims'

word choice. The cop isn't the only one at risk of getting hurt.