Storm On The Island

Question 1

Opening of storm on the island showing confidence

Answer 1

We are prepared:We build our houses squat,

The caesura in the first line indicates that the speaker intends to explain just how the islanders are “prepared” for a storm. They build houses “squat”—which means these dwellings do not go very high—which helps protect them from potential damage from high winds.

Question 2

Quote showing trees sound in a storm in storm on the island

Answer 2

Can raise a tragic chorus in a gale

The trees are personified in terms of the noise they could make ‘raise a tragic chorus in a gale’ like a bad choir singing, warning of unhappy or unpleasant events. This could reflect the unhappiness of the people on the island as the storm rages around them.

Gale - very strong wind

Question 3

Quote showing oxymoron

Answer 3

Exploding comfortably

The sea is also seen as violent ‘exploding comfortably’ an oxymoron which shows it is violent ‘exploding’ but they are there ‘comfortably’ as they are at home.

Question 4

Metaphor in storm on the island and show of powerlessness of humans

Answer 4

“like a tame cat turned savage.”

simile shows that even if we think we can control nature (tame it), it can still become wild and attack. The force of nature should not be underestimated.

Question 5

Quote showing storm battering humans in storm on the island (weaponry)

Answer 5

“We are bombarded by the empty air.”

There is weaponry imagery with ‘we are bombarded by the empty air’ as if they are being attacked by an invisible army with invisible bullets.

Question 6

Structure of Storm on the Island

Answer 6

Blank verse creates a conversational tone and shows nature can’t be controlled by man
Constant casuera and enjambment shows failed attempts to control nature
First person plural tense creates a sense of community
‘Squat’ stanza shows buildings and sense of community and visually shows an island
Shifts from confidence to fear and destruction

Question 7

Quote showing volta in storm on the island

Answer 7

But no.when it begins,the flung spray hits

Question 8

Context

Answer 8

The storm pummeling the island is a metaphor for the violence that was taking place in Northern Ireland. This is evident even in the title (island is a homophone of Ireland). Furthermore, the first 8 letters of the poem’s title spell out the word ‘Stormont.

Stormont - It is the site of Northern Ireland’s main Parliament Buildings.