Brooklyn Cop: Stanza1

Brooklyn Cop: Stanza1

‘Brooklyn Cop’: Stanza 1

Main Ideas

• Violence and fear are the primary themes introduced in the first stanza.
• The cop is portrayed as an imposing figure with a violent potential, contributing to the readers understanding of his role in society.

Characterisation

• MacCaig uses the metaphor of the cop as a gorilla, reflecting his physical strength and aggressive nature.
• The lines “he walks the sidewalk and the thin tissue over violence” emphasise the cop’s tense, dangerous environment.

Imagery

• MacCaig’s use of animal imagery refers to the cop’s raw power and instinctual behaviour.
• The phrase “thick fleshed” creates an image of the cop as a solid, formidable presence on the streets of Brooklyn.

Language

• The use of alliteration in “built like a gorilla” provides an auditory emphasis on the cop’s muscularity.
• The word “thick-fleshed” further reinforces the cop’s intimidating physicality, symbolising his hardy constitution.

Context

• Brooklyn has a reputation for high crime rates, and the cop is symbolised as a bulwark against lawlessness.
• The cop’s tough exterior is a response to the environment in which he works, illustrating the inevitable impact of societal context on individual behaviour.

Summary

• In the first stanza of ‘Brooklyn Cop’, MacCaig introduces the themes of violence and fear, through his depiction of the tough, brooding cop on the streets of Brooklyn. Vivid imagery and charged language help to convey the cop’s physical intimidation and the tension-filled environment, offering readers an insight into the city’s gritty reality.