storm on the island Flashcards
storm on the island summary
Storm on the Island” is a poem that depicts a community’s preparation and endurance of a violent storm on an island. It explores themes of human vulnerability, the power of nature, and the resilience found in collective unity.
storm on the island context
- In Ireland, where Heaney was from, the Troubles—a period of conflict and violence between nationalist and unionist communities in Northern Ireland—were beginning to escalate in the late 1960s. The Troubles continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s, influencing the socio-political landscape of Ireland.
- Heaney’s poetry often reflects his experiences growing up in Northern Ireland and the impact of political and cultural divisions on the lives of ordinary people. While “Storm on the Island” does not explicitly address these political issues, its exploration of vulnerability, fear, and resilience in the face of a natural disaster can be interpreted as a metaphor for the turbulent times and the need for unity and strength in the face of adversity.
structure
- symbolic extended metaphor
- ending is four lines long, whereas the previous stanzas are all five lines long, so perhaps hes asking readers to write the final line, and this final lines he hopes would be a solution to the conflict, rather than a continuation of it
- it doesnt end with a rhyming couplet, but it ends with a half rhyme (air and fear), half rhyme gives us a sense of unease, feeling that things have not been resolved properly, allowing us to write the last line to solve and end the conflict
The use of regular stanzas creates a sense of structure within the poem, while the consistent line length provides a visual harmony on the page. This structure contrasts with the chaotic subject matter of the storm, emphasizing the human desire for stability and order in the face of turmoil.
“sink walls in rock and roof them with good slate. this wizened earth has never troubled us”
- sibilance establishes sinister mood, but politically, hes arguing that the conflict between Catholics and Protestant is also sinister
- combined with plosives “k” “c”, harsh sounds reflect harsh perceptions of each side
- irony - “wize” suggests wisdom, “end” suggests age, gives an impression that the society that he’s describing is wizened, in other words it is shrivelled up, so he may be saying that the political conflict in Ireland is making them old and frail, its damaging them
- rather than building walls, he says “sink” walls, the opposite, suggesting that when we build our identity (either protestant or catholic), we create walls, but what were actually doing is sinking, diminishing our experiences, juxtaposition
“so that you listen to the thing you fear forgetting that it pummels your house too”
- direct address, “you”, addressing both Protestants and Catholics this way. so he may be saying that this division is not real, rather an illusion
- “fear” is what they have in common, there isnt a real grievance or difference between the two sides, but the problem is that theyre just afraid of each other, Heaney may be suggesting that if they get rid of their fear, then theyll be able to live in peace with each other
- metaphor of the storm, if you dont fear the storm, it wont have power to destroy you
- second part of the quote suggests that any violence committed by one side, is actually the same as violence committed against yourself, tit for tat
- symbolism of the house - suggesting that the violence in NI is destroying everyones homes and ways of life, even though they think theyre protecting it, they are destroying it through their own fear
- fricatives (f sound) evolutionary way of threatening another animal - could suggest anger
“you might think the sea is company exploding comfortably down on the cliffs”
- personifying the sea, sea is huge and isolates us, very opposite of “company”
- does this to juxtapose the reality of Ireland being isolated in the sea with the perception of the Northern Irish that what theyre doing is conflict between Protestants and Catholic, is all that matters, but in fact, Ireland is isolated, they are not like the rest of the world, and therefore should change
- emphasised again with the oxymoron of the sea, “exploding comfortably” , exploding suggests eratic and sudden movements, comfortably suggests relaxed, symbolic, because the way Catholics and Protestants fought was through shooting and bombing, so suggesting that they have become comfortable with bonbs and taking them for granted, but they are unnatural and should not be used in this manner
- suggests that violence will only get worse and closer
strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear
- lesson is that there is a huge fear, but nothing to be afraid of
- Catholics and protestants believe in the same God, mostly similar, and the one different belief they’re holding onto is the belief about different histories, and are using this to hate each other
- by using the word strange combined with the caesura, he may be asking the reader to pause and reflect
- oxymoron “huge nothing” suggests that the “nothing” that they fear has a huge hold over them, considering its leading to terrorism and death, but once its realised that it is a fight over nothing, the storm will be able to stop
storm on the island TITLE analysis
- huge storm but only on an island?
- so we think its something thats massive because its affecting us, but in reality, its small, and island sized, so hes suggesting that these problems can be overcome
- insisting that both sides need to come together to tackle the storm
sink walls in rock…
and roof them with good slate
“sink walls with rock and roof them with good slate” analysis
- gives them security but also makes them feel stuck to the place
- “slate” is dark and gloomy, contrasts with good
- The word “rock” represents a durable and natural material. It symbolizes strength, endurance, and resilience. By using rock as a building material, the phrase conveys the idea of relying on something solid and steadfast to withstand the storm’s impact.
- Slate”: The word “slate” refers to a type of durable, fine-grained rock often used for roofing materials. It conveys a sense of quality and reliability, suggesting the islanders’ commitment to using the best available resources to protect themselves.
- The word “sink” carries a sense of solidity and permanence. It suggests the act of firmly embedding the walls into the ground, indicating a desire for stability and strength in the face of the storm. This word choice conveys a deliberate and intentional effort to create a solid foundation for protection.
this wizened earth has never troubled us
Personification: The phrase personifies the earth by describing it as “wizened,” which means wrinkled or weathered with age. This personification ascribes human qualities to the earth, suggesting a long history and a sense of wisdom. By attributing characteristics of age and experience to the earth, the phrase emphasizes the perception that the islanders have lived in relative peace and calm, undisturbed by significant natural threats.
Metaphor: The phrase uses the metaphor of the earth “troubling” the islanders. Here, the earth represents nature’s forces, such as storms and natural disasters. By describing the earth as troublesome, it implies that the islanders have not experienced significant hardships or challenges from nature. This metaphorical language reinforces the idea that they have grown complacent and have become accustomed to a sheltered existence
- While the islanders may believe that the earth has never troubled them, the reader knows that the storm is a tangible threat that will challenge their perceptions of safety. This irony highlights the gap between their false sense of security and the reality of their vulnerability.
