The gallows poem puzzle in the prison yard of Silent Hill 2 may be tripping you up slightly. It’s understandable, as the puzzle is quite lengthy and has a number of steps to complete, which includes getting the execution lever from the Prison weights and scales puzzle prior to the gallows puzzle. Solving this puzzle requires you to become a judge and executioner, as you have to decide which prisoner deserves to hang for their crimes. This guide will explain everything you need to know about how to complete it in the game on standard difficulty.
How To Solve The Gallows Puzzle in Silent Hill 2
Once you have the execution lever, you’ll want to take it to the mechanism between the gallows, which will reveal the large puzzle ahead of you. There are six poems about criminals, and you are responsible for judging one of them. Once you’ve connected the poem pieces, you need to pick the noose that corroborates with the poem.
However, if you are wrong about your choice, you’ll have to fight off enemies before trying again. The poems will have different solutions depending on what difficulty you are doing the puzzles. Typically, there are two matches, and only one of them will spawn in your playthrough. These are the answers for the standard difficulty.
Here are all of the answers to the poems.
| Poem Number | First Half | Match 1 | Match 2 |
| 1 | “For your grace, I do not plead…” (Arsonist) | “Though the young ones’ death I mourn…” | “I watched them burn, I heard them cry…” |
| 2 | “The wealth of others I did take…” (Thief) | “The reason, if I have to say, was to survive another day…” | “What were those reasons, you might ask…” |
| 3 | “I took the child, you are quite right…” (Abductor) | “Forgive me child, for I have failed…” | “My only daughter, joy of days…” |
| 4 | “Once the sun has ceased its reign…” (Cat burglar) | “So my guilt is plain to see, I had robbed the pharmacy…” | “I departed with great haste, leaving not a single trace…” |
| 5 | “Mommy dearest, Mommy sweet…” (Matricide) | “You broke my legs, I couldn’t walk…” | “You were, oh, so kind to me, filled my heart with joy and glee…” |
| 6 | “I waited long, I bid my time…” (Murderer) | “In truth, he was less man than beast, and on my flesh and soul he’d feast…” | “In truth, I did not hesitate, as my blade sealed the poor man’s fate…” |
Once you’ve matched up the poems correctly, you have to choose who should hang. There are Roman Numerals above the noose that relate to the poems. You need to pick the one based on the poem that you think depicts the worst crime, where they had no valid reason. For example, if the poem is depicting them committing a crime in self-defense, it’s not the right answer.
If you choose the wrong rope, James will fall through a trapdoor into a pit of enemies. You will then have to run to the ladder and return to the Yard to select another noose. Once you’ve chosen the right one, you’ll get a cutscene.
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