storm on the island'

Question 1

half rhyme

Answer 1

presents the uncontrollable power of nature - ‘we are prepared: we build our houses on squat’ - ‘squat’ and ‘slate’ - the wild storm refuses order and control so only the half rhyme is possible amidst the chaos, full rhyme would have been too perfect to resemble the chaos of the storm

cyclical structure resembling the inescapable nature of the storm - this rhyme occurs at the start and end of the poem

Question 2

confidence does what as the poem goes on

Answer 2

it disappears as the poet becomes more and more afraid

Question 3

uncontrollable power of

Answer 3

nature

Question 4

structure

Answer 4

lack of stanza breaks and the long sentences symbolise the over whelming power of nature
enjambment - use of this creates a constant barrage of info refelcting the constant barrage of the storm on the house

rhyme - half rhyme in the opening and closing couplets, symbolises how the wild strom refuses order and control, full rhyme would have been too perfect for a representation of the storm
the rhyme takes place at the start and end creating a cyclical structure - inescapable storm

Question 5

language

Answer 5

use of language of conflict like ‘blast’ ‘pummels’ and ‘exploding’ suggests the storm is dangerous and threatening
‘you know what i mean’ - everyday lang, everyday life to the narrator
‘exploding comfortably’ - has gotten used to it

Question 6

context

Answer 6

may resemble ireland itself under turmoil - northern irleand and ireland conflict from the 1960s to the 1990s
the word stormont is the name of ni parliament sounds similar to the tittle - subtle hint at the political conflict

the physical storm can be seen as an allegory for the political conflict known as the troubles