Storm On The Island

Question 1

The poem

Answer 1

• Narrator describes how a community think it’s well prepared for a storm.
• Poem goes on: confidence starts to disappear as storm develops.
• Ending if the poem describes fear as the storm hits the island.

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

• Blank verse, mirrors patterns of everyday speech, makes poem sound like part if a conversation.
• First person plural (we), showing how this is a collective communal experience.
• One stanza, compact and sturdy, like the houses.

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

• Poem shifts from security to fear.
• ‘But no’: turning point, slow pace of the monosyllabic phrase and the caesura, reflecting last moment of calm before the storm.

Question 4

Contrasting descriptions of safety and fear

Answer 4

• Uses lots of words to do with safety and security at the beginning of the poem.
• Time changes, the sense of danger increases as familiar things become frightening during the storm.

Question 5

Direct addres

Answer 5

-Involves reader in his fear by speaking directly to you.

Question 6

Violent imagery

Answer 6

-Storm described in violent, warlike terms, smilies metaphors and personification emphasise danger.

Question 7

Use of sounds

Answer 7

-Forceful sounds (blast) demonstrate strength of nature and the poem also uses assonant and sibilant sounds to reflect noise if wind and waves.

Question 8

Attitudes and feelings; safety

Answer 8

-First part of the poem shows the community feels safe and prepared.

Question 9

Attitudes and feelings: helplessness

Answer 9

• People can’t do anything about their fear expect wait for the storm to finish.
• Nature is a powerful and relentless force.

Question 10

Attitudes and feelings: fear

Answer 10

-Sense of security soon changes to fear as familiar things change and become frightening.