soti

Question 1

what does the metaphor suggest (form)

Answer 1

• single 19 line stanza of the poem is a metaphor for the way the islanders huddle together in preparation for the storm , similarly they build their “houses squat” to maximise their protection against the elements

Question 2

what does the no rhyme suggest (structure)

Answer 2

poem generally doesn’t rhyme however the 1st & final couplet has a slant rhyme of “squat/slate” & “air/fear” which is unsettling - denies reader satisfaction of a full rhyme scheme which suspends them within the same aspic of waiting that the islanders operate in whilst expecting a storm

Question 3

S L A T C T S (fear , power of nature)

Answer 3

• spits like a tame cat turned savage
• juxtaposes a safe image to a frightening one , reflecting how the storm has the power to make even familiar things seem frightening - could also be a reflection of how unpredictable events are in Ireland
• heaney uses enjambment to surprise the reader - ‘tamed cat’ turns ‘savage’ suggesting that the familiar sea has suddenly threatening & dangerous
• power of nature shown to be wide ranging - nature can be both kind + healing but contrastingly inflict suffering + release chaos

Question 4

W A P : W B O H S (power of humans - unity)

Answer 4

• we are prepared : we built our houses squat
• use of collective pronoun “we” creates sense of solidarity readying itself to endure the elements / metaphorically wartime bombing / bombardment
• simple word ‘prepared’ implies this community is accustomed to fierce elements & maybe accustomed to war. A sense of mystery , fear + tension is created that foreshadows future events in the poem