Storm On The Island Flashcards
Seamus Heaney
seamus Heaney was a Northern Irish poet who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995 and died in 2013.
He often wrote about themes such as childhood, nature and his homeland. This poem was published in 1966.
Context -Context - Northern Ireland
The first eight letters of the poem’s title spell ‘Stormont.
‘Stormont’ is the name given to Northern Ireland’s parliament buildings. This hints that the ‘storm’ could be about some of the violent political disturbances that Ireland has experienced, eg. between Catholics and Protestants, or Irish republicans wanting independence from Britain
Form
The poem is written in blank verse, which mirrors the patterns of everyday speech and makes the poem sound like part of a conversation. The first person plural (“We”) is used, showing how this is a collective, communal experience. The poem is all in one stanza — it’s compact and sturdy, like the houses.
Structure
The poem shifts from security to fear. “But no:” seems to be a turning point (volta), with the slow pace of the monosyllabic phrase and the caesura reflecting the last moments of calm before the storm.
Contrasting descriptions of safety and fear
The narrator uses a lot of words to do with safety and security at the beginning of the poem. The tone changes though, and the sense of danger increases as familiar things become frightening during the storm.
“We are prepared” - This is a very strong opening statement that creates a feeling of safety. Compare it to the last line of the poem.
“It is a huge nothing that we fear “ - The storm is invisible — there’s nothing solid there. This contrasts with the solid rock mentioned in the second line of the poem.
Direct address
The narrator involves the reader in his fear by speaking directly to “you”.
“You know what I mean” - The narrator speaks directly to the reader in a chatty tone, making you reflect on your own experience of storms.
Violent imagery
The storm is described in violent, often warlike terms, with similes,
metaphors and personification combining to emphasise the danger and effects of the storm.
“Pummels … bombarded” violent verbs and plosives
“Bombarded and strafes” - war imagery wind is compared to a fighter plane attacking the island
“Exploding comfortably” - oxymoron juxtaposes the feelings of fear and safety.
“Spits like a tame cat” - simile shows how familiar things become frightening during the storm
Use of sounds
Forceful sounds (e.g. “Blast”) are used to demonstrate the strength of nature, and the poem also uses assonant and sibilant sounds to reflect the noise of the wind and waves.
“Tragic chorus “ - In a Greek tragedy, a “chorus” comments on and explains events. Having no trees to act as a chorus suggests the islanders are left on their own to face and interpret the storm.
“Blast” plosive describing the wind
Safety
The first part of the poem shows that the community feels safe, and prepared for the storm.
Fear
This sense of security soon changes to fear, as familiar things change and become frightening.
Helplessness
The people can’t do anything about their fear except wait for the storm to finish. Nature is presented as a powerful, relentless force.
