Storm on the Island by Saemus Heaney

Question 1

Whatare the themes presented in Storm on the island?

Answer 1

• power of man
• power of nature
• power is transient
• hysical impact of conflict
• conflict of thoughts
• man vs nature

Question 2

context in storm on the island?

Answer 2

• published in 1956 - at the start of “the troubles”in northern island : a period if deep unrest and violence between those who wanted to remain part of UK and those who wanted to bgecome part of Ireland
• the first eight letters of the title spell “stormont” which is the name of Northern Ireland’s parliament. The poem might be a metaphor for the political storm that was brewing in th ecountry at thte time.

Question 3

form and structure in storm on the island

Answer 3

• written in blank verse
• lots of enjambment: creates controversial and anecdotal tone
• “we” first person plural n creates a sense of community
• “you” direct address make the reader feel directly immmersed in the expoeriencxe
• the poem can be split into 3 sections: confidence we are prepared which is ironic, violence of the storm it pummels your house, fear it if a huge nothing that we fear
• there is volta in line 14

Question 4

What poems can Storm on the Island be compared to?

Answer 4

• Ozymandias
• The Prelude

Question 5

“leaves and branches can raise a tragic chorus in a gale,”

Answer 5

Heaney uses the metaphor to show how much damage the winds can really cause.

Question 6

“So that you can live in fear forgetting that it pummels your house too.”

Answer 6

Heaney uses alliteration as the “f” sound creates a sinister image of the storm.

Question 7

“But there are no trees, no natural shelter”

Answer 7

• This shows that nature isn’t protecting the humans on the island - nature is in control and is making life hell down there
• the storm is a metaphor for political conflict or war, and there is no political solution to protect the protagonist and his community of islanders.
• The caesura slows the pace of the line and emphasises the second “no”
• The repetition of the word “no” emphasises the idea that nature can get angry if man misuse it, portraying the power of nature

Question 8

“Like a tame cat turned savage,”

Answer 8

• Use of a simile shows that the sea can suddenly turn dangerous in a storm.
• The mood change is reinforced by the sudden spitting of the harsh polsives of the “t” sound making it sound sinister
• Use of zoomorphisim conveys that nature can be both kind and suffering which causes fear as there is a large sense of uncertainty and reflects how quickly and unpredictably events change.

Question 9

“Strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear.”

Answer 9

Heaney uses a oxymoron to suggest that the wind is invisible, so it shouldn’t be feared, but is due to the raging storm.

Question 10

“We are prepared”

Answer 10

• The collective pronoun “we” indicates Heaney is not alone, instead part of a community.
• The opening words suggests a community readying itself to endure whatever they’re about to face. The poem has a cyclical structure as Heaney returns to this point at the end.
• Has a tone of confidence
• The adjective “prepared” implies that this community is accustomed to chaos.
• A sense of mystery, fear and tension is created that foreshadows future events in the poem

Question 11

‘the sea is company, exploding comfortably down on the cliffs’

Answer 11

• The oxymoron shows how the violent waves crashing against the cliff are “comfortable” in tis time of need. It could also be a use of irony to mock the idea that the sea could be company. This juxtaposition leaves the reader feeling surprised or confused.
• It can also show that the personified ocean has become accustomed to the power it possesses and is indifferent to its negative impact on humanity.
• The repetitive “c” sound creates a rhythmic tone of the steady waves but is interrupted by the verb “exploding” portraying the power of nature.

Question 12

“We are bombarded by the empty air”

Answer 12

• “Bombarded” is a dynamic verb, conjuring images of violent sieges or attacks. This also links to the lexical field of war.
• Being hit by “empty air” is a metaphor, suggesting that the conflict has no foundation, a struggle based on nothing.
• History and identity are nebulous concepts, the source of much hatred, yet fleeting and intangible.
• The word “air” reinforces the theme of nothingness.