storm on the island Flashcards
what can storm on the island be interpreted as an allegory for?
the political tensions in Northern ireland
how does the title illude to politics?
the title is a reference to Stormont, the name of the northern irish government buildings. the word ‘island’ is also a homophone for ireland
how is theme of isolation vs community shown throughout the poem?
dramatic monologue emphasises isolation of the islanders. on the other hand, it is written in first person plural, which shows the islanders speaking together as a community
what do words in the semantic field of conflict such as ‘pummels’ ‘strafes’ and ‘salvo’ create?
a violent, aggressive tone
what does the cyclical structure and rhythm change throughout the poem suggest?
cyclical structure symbolises the never ending cylcle of preparing for, enduring and recovering from storms that the islanders have to endure.
rhythm change emphasises the storms unpredictable nature.
what does the simile ‘spits like a tame cat turned savage’ suggest about nature?
that it always poses a threat to become wild and attack, even if humans try their best to control it or prepare for it. it suggests humans thought they had control of the nature but they didn’t in reality. this could mirror the longevity of the tension between the two countries.
what does the oxymoron ‘exploding comfortably’ suggest about nature in the poem?
juxtaposes ideas of fear and safety, which shows how the inhabitants are seemingly well prepared by cutting down the trees, for example, but the storm will always pose an unpredictable threat.
what does the juxtaposition ‘huge nothing that we fear’ reflect about the relationship between nature and humans
it is a reflection on the fear of the unknown power of nature. it highlights the strange and paradoxical relationship between humans and nature and the fear and vulnerability people feel when confronted by its power.
who wrote storm on the island
Seamus Heaney
