A Case of Murder by Vernon Scannell

‘ A Case of Murder’ by Vernon Scannell

Section A Lines 1-5: The Boy

1. What does the title of the poem make you think is going to happen?

2. Which word is repeated four times? Why do you think the poet does this?

3. Do you agree with the poet when he says, ‘only nine, not old enough’? Give reasons for your answer.

4. How do you feel towards the boy at this point in the poem?

Section B Lines 6- 17: The Cat

1. Why do you think that the poet thinks a dog might have been different? Do you find this surprising?

2. What does the cat look like?

3. Find a word that expresses how the boy feels about the cat. Then try to find what makes him feel this way.

4. How do you think the poet wants the reader to feel about the parents Give reasons for your answer?

5. Do you notice anything about the descriptions of the cat in lines 13 and 15 what does this suggest to you?

Section C Lines 18-32: The Murder

1. Write a short paragraph explaining how the boy murders the cat

2. Find two quotations from the section to show that the boy enjoys hurting the cat.

Section D Lines 33-47: The Aftermath

1. How does the boy’s attitude change at this point?

2. What do you think he is afraid of in lines 33 to 26? 3. What do you this he is praying for?

4. The poet calls the cat the ‘thing’. Why? Find another similar expression.

5. By the end of the poem what does the boy fear will happen?

6. Why do you think he might think this?

Section E: Your Response

1. Write a short paragraph giving your thoughts and reaction to the poem overall. Back up your opinions with reference to the text. Literary Techniques in Vernon Scannell’s ‘A Case of Murder’

Section A: Lines 1-5 (the Boy)

Line Technique Example Effect 1,2,4,5 Repetition The word ‘alone’ is This emphasises the loneliness and repeated four times vulnerability of the young child. We fear for HIS safety.

Section B: Lines 6-17 (the Cat)

Line Technique Example Effect

8 Simile

9 ‘plump as a cushion with tucked in paws’

13 Metaphor

15 ‘hot blood in a muff’

17 ‘crooning dark warmth’

17 Word choice ‘loathed’ Section C: Lines 18-32 (the Murder)

19 Simile

20 ‘hissed’

20 ‘black flash’

21 alliteration

25 ‘hard’ ‘quick’

26 ‘black fur squealed’

31 simile Section D: Lines 33-47 (the Aftermath)

34 repetition

35 Word choice ‘the dead thing’

36 Metaphor

37 Metaphor

38-end of Word poem choice/repetition

43 Onomatopoeia

46 Alliteration

45-47 Hyperbole (exaggeration) ‘ A Case of Murder’ by Vernon Scannell Critical response

TASK: Explain how Vernon Scannell makes his poem ‘A Case of Murder’ memorable. Refer to the description of the boy, the cat, the murder and the aftermath and comment on the literary techniques used by the poet and their effect.

Introduction

 Use the words of the task to help you write your opening sentence.  Explain (in one sentence) what the poem is about.  Explain what your task is.

Paragraph 1: Refer to Section A of your notes. Look carefully at the title and lines 1-5 of the poem.

 Explain what the poet makes you think in this part of the poem.  What literary techniques does he use to make the reader think this?  Remember to include your thoughts and feelings at this point of the poem.

Paragraph 2: Refer to Section B of your notes. Look at lines 6-17 of the poem.

 Write about how the cat is described in these lines, remembering to mention the literary techniques used by the poet and their effect.  Then write about the boy and his feelings towards the cat giving evidence from the poem to support your ideas.  Remember to include your thoughts and feelings at this point of the poem.

Paragraph 3: Refer to Section C of your notes. Look at lines 18-32 of the poem.

 Write about the various literary techniques used by the poet to describe the cat in a memorable way.  Write about how the poem affected you at this point, including which part of the description you found to me the most memorable.

Paragraph 4: Refer to Section D of your notes. Look at lines 33-47 of the poem.

 Write about the various literary techniques used by the poet to describe how the boy feels at this point in the poem.  Write about how you feel at the end of the poem about the cat and the boy.

Conclusion

 Give your opinion of the poem overall, including any parts that you thought were particularly good.  You should also comment on the poet’s use of literary techniques and explain how they made the incident describe in the poem so memorable.