9 short quatrained
stanzas which build the
fear, tension and
distrust
The absences of a rhyme
scheme shows a lack of control
and makes the poem much
more storylike (and childlike)
The use of puctuation compliments the building drama
The young Heaney's discomfort
extends the narrative forming a
snappy pace with enjambment in
two quatrians
Final two stanzas similar
in pace to the opening
stanzas- the poems comes
full circle
Language
Sound effects
Alliteration
"black hole in the barracks"
Sibilance
"I sat staring at the polished holster"
Onomatopoeia
"The bicycle ticked, ticked, ticked"
The poem features vivid imagery throughout
Tone
The tone in the opening is neutral and factual
The tone develops during the poem, showing
disgust and sickened distastefulness at the
policeman but also guilt at crimes which the
child thinks serious. The guilt the young Heaney
feels develops to fear at the power he weilds
Heaney's tone while the policeman exits the house feels formal and
unfriendly, this emphasises the tension which must have been in the
room, the reader finds themselves involuntarily holding their breath
as they wait for something to happen