storm on the island

Question 1

“sink in rock and roof them with good slate”

Answer 1

• sibilance, give the idea of a sinister mood
• consonance of “CK”, harsh sound to suggest the harshness of the weather
• the poem seems to be just a description of the storm, but it is symbolic of the conflict between catholics and protestants

Question 2

“this wizened earth has never troubled us”

Answer 2

• suggests the unpredictability of the weather
• juxtaposes the previous line as it once described the ocean as strong, but here it is implying its age and frailness

Question 3

“so that you listen to the thing you fear”

Answer 3

• irony, shows how he would listen for the very storm that fears him
• alternatively, generalises the catholics and protestants as “you”, as they both believe in the same thing
• “you listen to the thing you fear”, suggests the catholics and protestants fear eachother, and only by removing that fear can both sides live in peace

Question 4

“exploding comfortably”

Answer 4

• oxymoronic, shows how used they are to the weather
• references the bombings that occured in ireland, shows how he is too used to these acts of terrorism during the time

Question 5

“spits like a tame cat turned savage”

Answer 5

• simile and metaphorical to how the storm is like a weather
• a wild cat is never meant to be tamed, showing how untameable and unpredictable the weather is, despite him getting comfortable around it
• alternatively references the “savage” acts of terrorism between the catholics and protestants

Question 6

explain the form of the poem, storm on the island

Answer 6

• the final stanza is written in 4 lines whereas the others are written in 5
• could suggest how he wants the reader to write the final line, and stop these prejudice acts of terrorism that occur within ireland