Five Ways to Kill a Man

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Five Ways to Kill a man by Edwin Brock 1a To what historical facts, periods or people does the poet refer in the first three stanzas? The first stanza refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the second one refers to the wars in the middle ages and the last refers to the gassing of the Jews in the second World War. 1b Which words or phrases in each stanza support your answers? 1 = ‘you can make him carry a plank of wood to the top of a hill and nail him to it’ 2 = ‘English trees, men with bows and arrows, at least two flags, a prince and a castle to hold your banquet in’ 3 = ‘if the wind allows, blow gas at him.’ 2a The fourth stanza refers to the present. What ‘cumbersome’ way to kill people is meant here? The way to kill people here is flying above a country and throw atomic bombs from the airplane on the country. 2b Which words or phrases in this fourth stanza support your answer? ‘You may fly miles above your victim and dispose of him by pressing one small switch’ and ‘and land that no one needs for several years.’ 3a Sometimes Edwin Brock uses a phrase instead of one word to express what he means. What Is meant by: a plank of wood – a wooden cross a length of steel – a sword a metal cage – the armory the soldiers wore hats made of steel – the helmets soldiers wore in the second world war 3b What is the effect of using phrases instead of single words? Because the reader has to think about it. 4 What nations do the following words stand for? Black boots – I think it refers to Nazi Germany Round hats made of steel – England, because the English soldiers wore round ‘kettle hats’ as armory. 5 What nations are probably referred to in ‘two systems of government’ The two nations are The United States of America and Russia 6 What is the essential difference between the ‘cumbersome’ ways of the first four stanzas and the ‘simpler, direct’ way of

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