Storm on the island

Question 1

What is the Context of the poem?

Answer 1

Conflict- side of the poem is a metaphor for the conflict in Northern Ireland
Power-poem of nature(storm)

Question 2

Give a oxymoron

Answer 2

“EXPLODING COMFORTABLY”

“HUGE NOTHING”

Question 3

What is the structure of the poem?

Answer 3

1 long stanza
Made up of long complex sentences
Lack of stanza breaks reflects the overwhelming situation the writer is in
Enjambment-

Question 4

What is the form of the poem?

Answer 4

dramatic monologue-single person talking to someone one way convo- reflects the in balance in the relation ship with the speaker and nature
persona of an islander

Question 5

How does the poet use personification/give a quote?

Answer 5

“The wizened earth”
The poet describes the earth almost like an old friend.
Personifying it like an old wrinkled man.
wizened suggest the island has been dried up

Question 6

Give a quote about pummels and tree

Answer 6

“NOR ARE THERE TREES..PUMMELS YOUR HOUSE TO”-

“YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN”

Question 7

Give analysis for “NOR ARE THERE TREES..PUMMELS YOUR HOUSE TO”-
“YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN”

Answer 7

everyday language contrasts the language of conflict and power and the language of everyday life seems oxymoronic doesn’t make sense-suggest this is everyday life
Violent language suggests the power of the weather as dominant over man.

Question 8

What is salvo?

Answer 8

Military metaphors salvo, strafe, bombardment relate
to air attacks. The poet is drawing comparisons with the
wind being a fighter plane destroying nature

Question 9

Give analysis for exploding comfortably

Answer 9

oxymoron made the speaker reflects how the speaker has made sense of the conflict filled world in which he lives

Question 10

Give analysis for huge nothing

Answer 10

the poet suggests that our fear is a

paradox, there is nothing to fear or that we fear the nothingness of the invisible wind.

Question 11

What words are used to show there’s no structure in the poem?

Answer 11

SQUAT,SLATE”-Wild storm refuses to be organised its a mess just like the poem as there’s no structure to the poem

Question 12

What can you comment on the language?

Answer 12

-everyday language contrasts the language of conflict and power and the language of everyday life seems oxymoronic doesn’t make sense-suggest this is everyday life
Half rhyme-Poem lacks control

Question 13

What does the cottage represent?

Answer 13

-The cottage represents safety and calm and behind its walls
the violence of the weather is undermined. It reflects a
conflict between nature and man.

Question 14

What does the poet portray?

Answer 14

-The poet is able to communicate a sense of calm friendliness using asides and very recognisable imagery to describe the attack of the weather.

Question 15

What does it is a huge nothing suggest?

Answer 15

the suggestion is not just about the weather but also potentially many things.

Question 16

How does Heaney present weather?

Answer 16

As a Irish Catholic, religion is a big element in Heaney’s life. He humbles the weather into very human terms unlike
other poems which fear it’s might

Question 17

What does Heaney humble in life?

Answer 17

In many ways he is also humbling the idea of God. Reducing his power into a ‘huge nothing’. The suggestion of fear is that power is only there if you let the other thing scare you. Behind his walls and well prepared, he doesn’t need to fear and so the weather (and god) lose power.