Storm on the Island Flashcards
Context
Ireland faced much unrest in regard to politics and religion as the country was divided, because some wanted independence and others did not. As well as this Protestants and Catholics were often bitterly opposed to one another which caused problems within the community. Seamus Heaney’s poem is symbolic of the problems that Ireland faced, particularly in Stormont
Plot
A story of a strong, powerful storm that attacks an isolated cottage located next to the sea. Despite the preparedness of the occupants, the house struggles under the strength of the storm
Form
Iambic pentameter
No rhyme
Present tense
Enjambment
Structure
Blank verse
19 lines
Tone
Fear
Hope
Patriotic
Theme
Power of humans
Power of nature
War
Religion
Politics
Key quote-“We are prepared; we build our houses squat”
Personal pronouns portrays a sense of togetherness within the community as well as including the reader, making them feel as if they are a part of it. The opening words suggest a community readying itself to endure nature or , metaphorically wartime bombardment in reference to the conflict in Ireland. Also the opening lines highlight a defiant tone as the villagers know the threats that they are posed with but seem confident as they build their houses squat to help with stability in the storm. There also may be a implication and foreshadowing that the community is accustomed to the fierceness of nature or metaphorically war.
Key Quote-“ spits like a tamed cat Turned savage”
Heaney uses enjambment to surprise the reader as the quote suggests that the familiar sea is suddenly turning threatening and dangerous. The mood change is reinforces by sudden spitting plosive t’s. Also through the rapid mood change, it can reflect how quickly unpredictable events can change in reference to the storm and metaphorically conflict. The simile symbolises how mankind has tried but failed to tame nature which is an impossible feat. Politically this could be a metaphor from the various rebellions in Ireland in the 1960s from the people the government thought to have “tamed” which seems like an impossible feat.
Key Quote-“the wizened earth has never troubled us”
Heaney personifies the earth as “wizened” which is more commonly used to describe an elderly person, drawing a parallel between the infertility of the ground to that of an elderly woman- a rather sombre image that foreshadows the devastating consequences of the storm later in the poem. (“There are no trees, no natural shelter” to help protect them against nature). It could also be describing the earth as wise and intelligent enough to know that things like hay will not be able to grow in or withstand the power of the wind. Refers to how Ireland used to be in a famine and they were never troubled with crops.
Key quote-“Strange, it is a huge nothing we fear”
The poem ends on a rather ambiguous note as the narrator himself seemingly questions the rationality of fear, concluding that it is nothing that they are afraid of. The oxymoron is a metaphor for the invisible yet deadly winds bombarding the Islands as well as, potentially, the way in politics has indirectly lead to so many deaths. Also this could be a reference to God as this is something that is feared by so many and is so powerful that it makes us all scared, yet as humans we physically see God as a huge nothing. Contextualised to how religion was one of the main points in conflict for Ireland.
Can compare to…
Exposure- power of nature
Prelude-Relationships between humans and nature
Ozymandias-Power of nature
