SOTI analysis

Question 1

“Pummels your house”

Answer 1

• shift into second person and personification of the storm as antagonistic involves the reader in the drama, and makes them question as to why they are also subject to the force of the metaphorical storm
• auditory and violent imagery creats a sense of the reality of warfare on those who were surrounded by it

Question 2

“We are prepared: we build our houses squat”

Answer 2

• repetition of collective pronoun ‘we’ creates a sense of community within the inhabitants of the island suggesting how they have to unite for the means of protection against the power of the storm
• if the poem is to be read as a political allegory, the collective voice reflects a wider cultural history
• ‘prepared’ reflects how Catholics in Northern Ireland during the troubles were constantly prepared for invasion

Question 3

“Spits like a tame cat turned savage”

Answer 3

• sibilance highlights the unpredictability of weather as cat has connotations of friendliness and company, however the aggressive tone used highlights the aggression of the weather and the sea despite it not appearing dangerous initially
• This juxtaposition of opposing ideas suggests that an enemy may appear ‘tame’ but turn ‘savage’ once it is allowed to reach your doorstep