What is the "ragged diamond" in line one?
The broken glass falling from the shop's window
An engagement ring in the shop window
A glass cutting tool that the thieves are about to use
"A young man and his girl / are falling backwards into a shop window". What structural technique is used here?
An elongated sentence
Enjambment
Rhyme
What is the double meaning of "wet-look white coat"?
The girl's coat looks as if it is wet from the rain but it is actually dry
The girl's coat looks dry but is actually wet from the rain
The girl’s coat has a "wet-look" design and is also wet from being spattered by blood
What is the effect of the metaphor "starfished out"?
It suggests the evening's wet weather
It describes the way the couple’s limbs splay out as the result of the impact with the window
It suggests the star-shaped fragments created by the breaking window
"Their faces show surprise, shock". What technique is used here and what is its effect?
Alliteration – for emphasis
Onomatopoeia – to makes us hear the sounds of the incident
Metaphor – to make a comparison, helping us to visualise the couple’s horror
"The two youths who have pushed them". What is the most important information for the reader here?
The thieves are not any older than the couple
This is a team working together
The couple have been shoved through the window by other people
What does the word choice of "complete" tell us about the criminals?
That the violent assault on the couple has all been part of their plan to rob the shop
That they have planned a particularly complicated robbery
That there are several other criminals in their gang
What is the double meaning of the word "sharp"?
Easy to see and jagged like broken glass
Pointed and intelligent
Calculated and freezing weather
Why is "Sauchiehall Street" mentioned towards the end of the poem?
It is where the couple live
It is where Edwin Morgan lived
It gives a real sense of location to the poem
Why do the two drivers "keep their eyes on the road"?
The driving conditions are dangerous.
Sauchiehall Street is a particularly complicated street for road users
So they don’t have to notice the incident or do anything to help the young couple