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A Case Of Murder Analysis
Author: poem of Vernon Scannell Type: poem Views: 35
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They should not have left him there alone,
Alone that is except for the cat.
He was only nine, not old enough
To be left alone in a basement flat,
Alone, that is, except for the cat.
A dog would have been a different thing,
A big gruff dog with slashing jaws,
But a cat with round eyes mad as gold,
Plump as a cushion with tucked-in paws---
Better have left him with a fair-sized rat!
But what they did was leave him with a cat.
He hated that cat; he watched it sit,
A buzzing machine of soft black stuff,
He sat and watched and he hated it,
Snug in its fur, hot blood in a muff,
And its mad gold stare and the way it sat
Crooning dark warmth: he loathed all that.
So he took Daddy's stick and he hit the cat.
Then quick as a sudden crack in glass
It hissed, black flash, to a hiding place
In the dust and dark beneath the couch,
And he followed the grin on his new-made face,
A wide-eyed, frightened snarl of a grin,
And he took the stick and he thrust it in,
Hard and quick in the furry dark.
The black fur squealed and he felt his skin
Prickle with sparks of dry delight.
Then the cat again came into sight,
Shot for the door that wasn't quite shut,
But the boy, quick too, slammed fast the door:
The cat, half-through, was cracked like a nut
And the soft black thud was dumped on the floor.
Then the boy was suddenly terrified
And he bit his knuckles and cried and cried;
But he had to do something with the dead thing there.
His eyes squeezed beads of salty prayer
But the wound of fear gaped wide and raw;
He dared not touch the thing with his hands
So he fetched a spade and shovelled it
And dumped the load of heavy fur
In the spidery cupboard under the stair
Where it's been for years, and though it died
It's grown in that cupboard and its hot low purr
Grows slowly louder year by year:
There'll not be a corner for the boy to hide
When the cupboard swells and all sides split
And the huge black cat pads out of it.
Submitted by Andrew Mayers
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doing a mock test on this, thanks for all the comments, this helped a lot, also plz follow me on instagram if you read this @ lucky_leo_123
| Posted on 2017-03-29 | by a guest
doing a mock test on this, thanks for all the comments, this helped a lot, also plz follow me on instagram if you read this @ lucky_leo_123
| Posted on 2017-03-29 | by a guest
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thank you this all helped a lot! I now do think that the boy was hit by his dad and that's where he got the whole idea from. I also think the reason the boy hit the cat was because he simply wanted something/someone to blame the whole situation on.
| Posted on 2017-02-07 | by a guest
thank you this all helped a lot! I now do think that the boy was hit by his dad and that's where he got the whole idea from. I also think the reason the boy hit the cat was because he simply wanted something/someone to blame the whole situation on.
| Posted on 2017-02-07 | by a guest
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the way that the cat is discribed as a 'load of heavy fur' shows that the boy doesn't care or have any feelings after the cat was killed even though he enjoyed killing it' sparks of dry delight '
| Posted on 2017-01-30 | by a guest
the way that the cat is discribed as a 'load of heavy fur' shows that the boy doesn't care or have any feelings after the cat was killed even though he enjoyed killing it' sparks of dry delight '
| Posted on 2017-01-30 | by a guest
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The diverse and aptitudal use of figurative language was intriguing and has given a multi - dimensional experience. Furthermore the poem gave birth to many contradicting matters such as which character should we feel sorrow for.
| Posted on 2016-11-12 | by a guest
The diverse and aptitudal use of figurative language was intriguing and has given a multi - dimensional experience. Furthermore the poem gave birth to many contradicting matters such as which character should we feel sorrow for.
| Posted on 2016-11-12 | by a guest
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Maybe the boy suffers from psychopathy as he never takes the blame for killing the cat, objectifies it, refers to it as that cat- never giving its name. His sorrow is only for himself as he fears he will be beaten "Daddy's stick, and get "sparks of dry delight" when inflicting pain on the cat. All of these are symptoms of the condition at a young age 9.
| Posted on 2016-05-08 | by a guest
Maybe the boy suffers from psychopathy as he never takes the blame for killing the cat, objectifies it, refers to it as that cat- never giving its name. His sorrow is only for himself as he fears he will be beaten "Daddy's stick, and get "sparks of dry delight" when inflicting pain on the cat. All of these are symptoms of the condition at a young age 9.
| Posted on 2016-05-08 | by a guest
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The Bit Wen The Cat Is Growing Dose NOT MEAN THE CAT IS ATUALLY GROWING!
| Posted on 2016-03-01 | by a guest
The Bit Wen The Cat Is Growing Dose NOT MEAN THE CAT IS ATUALLY GROWING!
| Posted on 2016-03-01 | by a guest
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je pense acctually le garçon a été négligé et étais jaloux du chat , la chose placard de phrase signifie qu'il aura toujours la culpabilité d'avoir tué cet innocent chat, quand il Tapis sur signifie que vous pouvez \ 't toujours garder un secret , alors il finira par dire à quelqu'un .
| Posted on 2016-01-04 | by a guest
je pense acctually le garçon a été négligé et étais jaloux du chat , la chose placard de phrase signifie qu'il aura toujours la culpabilité d'avoir tué cet innocent chat, quand il Tapis sur signifie que vous pouvez \ 't toujours garder un secret , alors il finira par dire à quelqu'un .
| Posted on 2016-01-04 | by a guest
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The young boy from the poem would rather a big gruff dog with slashing jaws because the dog has properties that the boy fears, meaning he wouldn't feel overpowered.
he hated the cat like his dad hated him? "he hated it"
the boy distances himself from the cat and dehumanizes it by calling it a "buzzing machine" and it through out
the auther places blame on the parents at the start of the poem "THEY should not have left him there alone"
repetition that he is alone
in m y opinion i think that the cat and the boys relationship represents the boy and his dads, the boy taking after his dad "he took daddy's stick"
i also think that the "mad gold eyes" could represent the look the boys dad gets before hitting him. this is my opinion
the boy takes sadistic pleasure over harming the cat and purposely "thrust it in" proof that the boy enjoyed killing thecat "his skin prickled with dry delight" and "grin on his new made face" new made suggests he hasnt done anything like this before
later in the poem the boy shows remorse "he cried and cried" "...beads of salty prayer"
hope this helps :)
| Posted on 2015-03-11 | by a guest
The young boy from the poem would rather a big gruff dog with slashing jaws because the dog has properties that the boy fears, meaning he wouldn't feel overpowered.
he hated the cat like his dad hated him? "he hated it"
the boy distances himself from the cat and dehumanizes it by calling it a "buzzing machine" and it through out
the auther places blame on the parents at the start of the poem "THEY should not have left him there alone"
repetition that he is alone
in m y opinion i think that the cat and the boys relationship represents the boy and his dads, the boy taking after his dad "he took daddy's stick"
i also think that the "mad gold eyes" could represent the look the boys dad gets before hitting him. this is my opinion
the boy takes sadistic pleasure over harming the cat and purposely "thrust it in" proof that the boy enjoyed killing thecat "his skin prickled with dry delight" and "grin on his new made face" new made suggests he hasnt done anything like this before
later in the poem the boy shows remorse "he cried and cried" "...beads of salty prayer"
hope this helps :)
| Posted on 2015-03-11 | by a guest
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Why does the poet choose a black cat? Is this symbolic?
| Posted on 2015-03-09 | by a guest
Why does the poet choose a black cat? Is this symbolic?
| Posted on 2015-03-09 | by a guest
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Why does the poet choose a black cat? Is this symbolic?
| Posted on 2015-03-09 | by a guest
Why does the poet choose a black cat? Is this symbolic?
| Posted on 2015-03-09 | by a guest
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Why would the boy be ok with a "big gruff dog with slashing jaws"?
| Posted on 2014-04-04 | by a guest
Why would the boy be ok with a "big gruff dog with slashing jaws"?
| Posted on 2014-04-04 | by a guest
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if you r writing an essay or assesment you could start off with an intro similar to...
A case of murder is a poem by vernon scanell he uses a range of poetic devices to create the poem. the poem is about a boy who suffers from neglect, abuse which leads to his violence towards the cat and his guilt growing until the truth comes out.
you could then go onto to talk about the themes of neglect,abuse, violence and guilt.
also tell the reader how scannell attempts to lesson the sympathy for the cat by turning it into a "buzzing machine"
AND DO NOT SAY A HUGE BLACK CAT IS GOING TO COME BACK TO LIFE OUT OF THE CUBOARD.
the cat represents the boys guilt.
| Posted on 2014-04-02 | by a guest
if you r writing an essay or assesment you could start off with an intro similar to...
A case of murder is a poem by vernon scanell he uses a range of poetic devices to create the poem. the poem is about a boy who suffers from neglect, abuse which leads to his violence towards the cat and his guilt growing until the truth comes out.
you could then go onto to talk about the themes of neglect,abuse, violence and guilt.
also tell the reader how scannell attempts to lesson the sympathy for the cat by turning it into a "buzzing machine"
AND DO NOT SAY A HUGE BLACK CAT IS GOING TO COME BACK TO LIFE OUT OF THE CUBOARD.
the cat represents the boys guilt.
| Posted on 2014-04-02 | by a guest
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The cat is a metaphor for the boys fear as it is a narrative poem the a huge black cat pads out of it is the cat coming back bigger and stronger
| Posted on 2014-03-08 | by a guest
The cat is a metaphor for the boys fear as it is a narrative poem the a huge black cat pads out of it is the cat coming back bigger and stronger
| Posted on 2014-03-08 | by a guest
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I think it's about trying to conquer your problems but then trying to hide them. The boy kills the cat but then hides it. It is a metaphor for locking your problems away and them growing.
| Posted on 2014-02-02 | by a guest
I think it's about trying to conquer your problems but then trying to hide them. The boy kills the cat but then hides it. It is a metaphor for locking your problems away and them growing.
| Posted on 2014-02-02 | by a guest
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If You Are Doing A P.E.E. paragraph type 'A Case Of Murder Analysis' on google.
| Posted on 2014-01-26 | by a guest
If You Are Doing A P.E.E. paragraph type 'A Case Of Murder Analysis' on google.
| Posted on 2014-01-26 | by a guest
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Frighten by his own excessive use of force against this cat makes him realize what just happened, he decides to hide the lifeless furry body within a cupboard. As time goes by he is beginning to hear strange sounds, catlike purring coming from the cardboard. Throughout the whole text, the cat is surrounded with some sort of evil presence, in a way Vernon Scannell makes us feel that the cat is somehow possessed by a demon of some sort, especially when he describes it; you really get the feeling that the cat is watching you. The same goes for the child, when he describes the evil grin: “He followed the grin on his new-made face” that the child has after striking the cat with the stick.
| Posted on 2014-01-26 | by a guest
Frighten by his own excessive use of force against this cat makes him realize what just happened, he decides to hide the lifeless furry body within a cupboard. As time goes by he is beginning to hear strange sounds, catlike purring coming from the cardboard. Throughout the whole text, the cat is surrounded with some sort of evil presence, in a way Vernon Scannell makes us feel that the cat is somehow possessed by a demon of some sort, especially when he describes it; you really get the feeling that the cat is watching you. The same goes for the child, when he describes the evil grin: “He followed the grin on his new-made face” that the child has after striking the cat with the stick.
| Posted on 2014-01-26 | by a guest
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The point of the poem is a boy killing a cat. Some people would think that it was just what the poem was about, cruelty to animals, but no…
I think this poem tries to blame the parents for their miss deeds too. As it says he is only 9. It also talks about the guilt the boy feels as the cat "grows" in the cupboard, this is actually a metaphor for the guilt growing in his mind about killing the cat.:)Bye(:
| Posted on 2014-01-18 | by a guest
The point of the poem is a boy killing a cat. Some people would think that it was just what the poem was about, cruelty to animals, but no…
I think this poem tries to blame the parents for their miss deeds too. As it says he is only 9. It also talks about the guilt the boy feels as the cat "grows" in the cupboard, this is actually a metaphor for the guilt growing in his mind about killing the cat.:)Bye(:
| Posted on 2014-01-18 | by a guest
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I don't think the boy loved the cat because his 'squeezed beeds of salty prayer' he had to squeeze the tears out of his eyes they did not flow freely. Also they were beads of prayer it is debatable whether the prayer was for the dead cat or himself.
| Posted on 2013-11-29 | by a guest
I don't think the boy loved the cat because his 'squeezed beeds of salty prayer' he had to squeeze the tears out of his eyes they did not flow freely. Also they were beads of prayer it is debatable whether the prayer was for the dead cat or himself.
| Posted on 2013-11-29 | by a guest
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I also have to write a PEE paragraph about this i also need help (PEE= point, evidence, explain)
| Posted on 2013-05-27 | by a guest
I also have to write a PEE paragraph about this i also need help (PEE= point, evidence, explain)
| Posted on 2013-05-27 | by a guest
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This is so diffricult, i have to write an PEE abbout this poem.HELP!
| Posted on 2013-05-25 | by a guest
This is so diffricult, i have to write an PEE abbout this poem.HELP!
| Posted on 2013-05-25 | by a guest
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\'his eyes squeezed beads of salty prayer\'. This shows the boys sadness after killing the cat. I think it\'s possible that the boy secretly loved the cat, maybe without knowing. The cat kept him company and was the only person he knew that hadn\'t harmed him.
| Posted on 2013-04-25 | by a guest
\'his eyes squeezed beads of salty prayer\'. This shows the boys sadness after killing the cat. I think it\'s possible that the boy secretly loved the cat, maybe without knowing. The cat kept him company and was the only person he knew that hadn\'t harmed him.
| Posted on 2013-04-25 | by a guest
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the boy should not have been left alone with the cat this truly was a big mistake.
| Posted on 2013-01-30 | by a guest
the boy should not have been left alone with the cat this truly was a big mistake.
| Posted on 2013-01-30 | by a guest
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This poem basically shows a boy, who hates the cat and does not like being left alone with it. Leaving the boy with the cat was a huge mistake. Plus, as the boy was alone, he could torture the cat as much as he wanted. Yes, it is true he wanted to torture the cat, but he didn\'t actually want to kill it. He had slammed the door so that the cat could not escape, but yes, this is a tale of cruelty.
| Posted on 2012-12-28 | by a guest
This poem basically shows a boy, who hates the cat and does not like being left alone with it. Leaving the boy with the cat was a huge mistake. Plus, as the boy was alone, he could torture the cat as much as he wanted. Yes, it is true he wanted to torture the cat, but he didn\'t actually want to kill it. He had slammed the door so that the cat could not escape, but yes, this is a tale of cruelty.
| Posted on 2012-12-28 | by a guest
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\"There\'ll not be a corner for the boy to hide
When the cupboard swells and all sides split
And the huge black cat pads out of it\"
These lines mean to say that the boy\'s subconscious is forcing him to think that the cat will soon get out of the cupboard and take its revenge, but actually it is his thinking on what might happen after many years, for example , the black cat grow and becomes huge.
| Posted on 2012-12-28 | by a guest
\"There\'ll not be a corner for the boy to hide
When the cupboard swells and all sides split
And the huge black cat pads out of it\"
These lines mean to say that the boy\'s subconscious is forcing him to think that the cat will soon get out of the cupboard and take its revenge, but actually it is his thinking on what might happen after many years, for example , the black cat grow and becomes huge.
| Posted on 2012-12-28 | by a guest
.: :.
\"There\'ll not be a corner for the boy to hide
When the cupboard swells and all sides split
And the huge black cat pads out of it\"
These lines mean to say that the boy\'s subconscious is forcing him to think that the cat will soon get out of the cupboard and take its revenge, but actually it is his thinking on what might happen after many years, for example , the black cat grow and becomes huge.
| Posted on 2012-12-28 | by a guest
\"There\'ll not be a corner for the boy to hide
When the cupboard swells and all sides split
And the huge black cat pads out of it\"
These lines mean to say that the boy\'s subconscious is forcing him to think that the cat will soon get out of the cupboard and take its revenge, but actually it is his thinking on what might happen after many years, for example , the black cat grow and becomes huge.
| Posted on 2012-12-28 | by a guest
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In response to guest who needs a personal response this is what i think - The \"cat slowly padded out of it\" bit is slightly amusing, this is because it is such a childish imagination (quote) (elaborate) etc you could comment on weather you could relate to it (etc)
Also it\'s your personal response, what do you think of the poem, what does it make you think, what do you think it\'s about! (remember Vernon scannel is a war poet this might help) M
| Posted on 2012-11-30 | by a guest
In response to guest who needs a personal response this is what i think - The \"cat slowly padded out of it\" bit is slightly amusing, this is because it is such a childish imagination (quote) (elaborate) etc you could comment on weather you could relate to it (etc)
Also it\'s your personal response, what do you think of the poem, what does it make you think, what do you think it\'s about! (remember Vernon scannel is a war poet this might help) M
| Posted on 2012-11-30 | by a guest
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pleasee help i need a personal response to this poem!
| Posted on 2012-11-27 | by a guest
pleasee help i need a personal response to this poem!
| Posted on 2012-11-27 | by a guest
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I wrote an essay about this poem this is a paragraph from my essay;
\"The subject of the poem is a boy killing a cat. Some people would think that it was just what the poem was about, cruelty to animals, but thats where they would be wrong. \'A Case of Murder\' explores the themes of blame and guilt through the sustained metaphor of the cat. Throughout the poem the little boy blames his actions on other people; \"They should not have left him there alone,\" As Vernon Scannell is a war poet this probably refers to how fighters in the war often blame the war leaders; using a \"they made me do it\" tactic.\"
I think the poem is about the war, but that\'s my opinion and i think that the abuse from his father is another reasoable opinion :)
| Posted on 2012-11-27 | by a guest
I wrote an essay about this poem this is a paragraph from my essay;
\"The subject of the poem is a boy killing a cat. Some people would think that it was just what the poem was about, cruelty to animals, but thats where they would be wrong. \'A Case of Murder\' explores the themes of blame and guilt through the sustained metaphor of the cat. Throughout the poem the little boy blames his actions on other people; \"They should not have left him there alone,\" As Vernon Scannell is a war poet this probably refers to how fighters in the war often blame the war leaders; using a \"they made me do it\" tactic.\"
I think the poem is about the war, but that\'s my opinion and i think that the abuse from his father is another reasoable opinion :)
| Posted on 2012-11-27 | by a guest
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I have to write an essay on this on the structure and on the language....does anyone have any suggestions??
| Posted on 2012-10-11 | by a guest
I have to write an essay on this on the structure and on the language....does anyone have any suggestions??
| Posted on 2012-10-11 | by a guest
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i acctually think the boy was neglected and was jealous of the cat, the cupboard sentence thing means that he will always have the guilt of killing that innocent cat, when it pads out means that you can\'t always keep a secret ,so he will eventually tell someone .
| Posted on 2012-05-31 | by a guest
i acctually think the boy was neglected and was jealous of the cat, the cupboard sentence thing means that he will always have the guilt of killing that innocent cat, when it pads out means that you can\'t always keep a secret ,so he will eventually tell someone .
| Posted on 2012-05-31 | by a guest
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me too i also have to do it for an essay at school.
:/
| Posted on 2012-05-31 | by a guest
me too i also have to do it for an essay at school.
:/
| Posted on 2012-05-31 | by a guest
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this poem is awful been doing it for a year have 2 do an essay on it KMT!!1
| Posted on 2012-04-25 | by a guest
this poem is awful been doing it for a year have 2 do an essay on it KMT!!1
| Posted on 2012-04-25 | by a guest
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have to write me own type of poem on this! grrr! dont get this....an its due in tommorow?
whatever! youse are all on about it being about it jealousy when its abviously not,and even i knew that! and im in year 7? people eh?;/
| Posted on 2012-01-13 | by a guest
have to write me own type of poem on this! grrr! dont get this....an its due in tommorow?
whatever! youse are all on about it being about it jealousy when its abviously not,and even i knew that! and im in year 7? people eh?;/
| Posted on 2012-01-13 | by a guest
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im gonna be writin an essay on this poem at school so when its done il post it on here
hope this helps guys x
meg
| Posted on 2012-01-02 | by a guest
im gonna be writin an essay on this poem at school so when its done il post it on here
hope this helps guys x
meg
| Posted on 2012-01-02 | by a guest
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I am doing an essay on a case of murder and find that if you explain why the poem is memorable instead of focusing on one point it helps like i did a paragraph that was a page long on how the death of the cat was memorable :D
| Posted on 2011-11-15 | by a guest
I am doing an essay on a case of murder and find that if you explain why the poem is memorable instead of focusing on one point it helps like i did a paragraph that was a page long on how the death of the cat was memorable :D
| Posted on 2011-11-15 | by a guest
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animal cruelty?!?! jealousy?!?! these things are all so obvious. this poem is about the neglect and sexual abuse a boy suffers by his father. the cat is a metaphor for the boy and the boy a metaphor for his father. the cupboard which the cat is put in is a metaphor for the basement the boy has been put in.
| Posted on 2011-09-11 | by a guest
animal cruelty?!?! jealousy?!?! these things are all so obvious. this poem is about the neglect and sexual abuse a boy suffers by his father. the cat is a metaphor for the boy and the boy a metaphor for his father. the cupboard which the cat is put in is a metaphor for the basement the boy has been put in.
| Posted on 2011-09-11 | by a guest
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i was hopeing a essay that i could coppy not reviews or ideas so if any one could wright one for me then send it to my email at thank you its because I havent done it yet and i got givin it in may yeah still not done it so
| Posted on 2011-06-15 | by a guest
i was hopeing a essay that i could coppy not reviews or ideas so if any one could wright one for me then send it to my email at thank you its because I havent done it yet and i got givin it in may yeah still not done it so
| Posted on 2011-06-15 | by a guest
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The poem uses ways of showing why the boy attacks the cat. It hints at neglect and possible abuse and the boy seems to hold a grudge against the cat sat \'snug in its fur, hot blood in a muff.\' this hints that the boy may have been left alone in the cold and envys the cat.
Abuse is hinted by the term \'daddy\'s stick\' \"daddy\" is obviously not home, where as the stick is. This seems to mean the stick may be used as a beating tool- which could mean that\'s how the boy sees it being used, and how he believes it should be used.
Hope this helps, I have to write a controlled assesment on this and two other poems by the same writer.
| Posted on 2011-01-27 | by a guest
The poem uses ways of showing why the boy attacks the cat. It hints at neglect and possible abuse and the boy seems to hold a grudge against the cat sat \'snug in its fur, hot blood in a muff.\' this hints that the boy may have been left alone in the cold and envys the cat.
Abuse is hinted by the term \'daddy\'s stick\' \"daddy\" is obviously not home, where as the stick is. This seems to mean the stick may be used as a beating tool- which could mean that\'s how the boy sees it being used, and how he believes it should be used.
Hope this helps, I have to write a controlled assesment on this and two other poems by the same writer.
| Posted on 2011-01-27 | by a guest
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This is a very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very, happy poem
| Posted on 2010-12-01 | by a guest
This is a very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very,very, very, happy poem
| Posted on 2010-12-01 | by a guest
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i LIKE THE POEM BECAUSE IT IS HAPPY AND LIGHT-HEARTED.
I also like it because its about pain and death!
| Posted on 2010-12-01 | by a guest
i LIKE THE POEM BECAUSE IT IS HAPPY AND LIGHT-HEARTED.
I also like it because its about pain and death!
| Posted on 2010-12-01 | by a guest