Storm on the Island Flashcards
(25 cards)
what is the poem written in? (storm on the island)
blank verse
what does blank verse mirror?(storm on the island)
the patterns of everyday speech and makes the poem sound like a conversation
what person is it written in and what does it show?(storm on the island)
-first person plural (we)
-showing how it is a collective, communal experience
what does the one stanza structure show?(storm on the island)
its compact like the houses
what does the poem shift from?(storm on the island)
security to fear
what is the Volta and what does it create?(storm on the island)
“but no;’
-monosyllabic, slow tone
-caesura reflects the last moments of calm before the storm
how does the narrator contrast descriptions of safety and fear?(storm on the island)
-at the beginning uses words to do with safety and security
-tone changes and a sense of danger increases as familiar things become more frightening during the storm
how is violent imagery used?(storm on the island)
-storm is described as violent
-warlike terms
-similes, metaphors and personification
how does the use of sounds effect the poem?(storm on the island)
-forceful sounds e.g “blast’ are used to demonstrate the strength of nature and the poem also uses assent and sibilance sounds to reflect the noise of the wind and waves
how is the feeling of safety conveyed?(storm on the island)
the first part of the poem shows that the community feels safe and prepared for the storm
how is the feeling of fear conveyed?(storm on the island)
the sense of security soon changes to fear as familiar things change and become frightening
how is the feeling of helplessness conveyed?(storm on the island)
the people can’t do anything about their fear except wait for the storm to Finnish. nature is presented as a powerful, relentless force
what are the key themes that storm on the island relates to?
power of humans
power of nature
negative emotions-fear
‘we are all ……..’
(storm on the island)
prepared
-this very strong opening statement creates a feeling of safety
-compare to last line of poem
‘squat’ ‘good ….’ ‘sink walls in …’
(storm on the island)
slate, rock
-safety
-punctuation at end of line
-safety disappears when enjambment occurs
‘…….. earth’
(storm on the island)
wizened
-the island seems barren
-nothing grows there
‘company’
(storm on the island)
used on like 7 and 12 to emphasise the loneliness of the setting
‘blast’
(storm on the island)
the plosive sound has a greater impact because it comes at the start of the line
‘you …. what I mean’
(storm on the island)
know
-coloquial, chatty tone
-making reader reflect their own experience of storms
‘pummels’
(storm on the island)
very violent verb which describes the wind
‘……… comfortably’
(storm on the island)
exploding
-oxymoron
-juxtaposes feelings of fear and safety
‘spits like a ….. …’
(storm on the island)
tame cat
-simile shows how familiar things become frightening during the storm
‘strafes’ ‘bombarded’
(storm on the island)
-language usually used to describe war
-wind is compared to a fighter plane attacking the island
’ a huge …… that we ….’
(storm on the island)
nothing, fear
-the strong is invisible, nothing there
-contrasts the solid rock mentioned in the second line
