Storm on the Island by Heaney Flashcards
opening
‘We are prepared’
-Arrogance in the declarative “we are prepared”
– too confident, shown by how bold and declarative,they are confident in their ability to overpower nature. BUT also betrays their fear – they have completely adapted their lives to the purpose of resisting nature
earth
‘wizened earth’
-old but connotes wisdom and respect to earth
conversational tone
‘as you see’ ‘you know what I mean’
-Heaney relies on conversational colloquialisms to connect the reality of the islander’s lives to the readers.
wind
‘when it blows full blast
-Plosives give sense of violence and aggression, and suggests nature is attacking the island - the plosives also resemble bullets – shows weather is as deadly as a weapon.
oxymoron
‘exploding comfortably’
- conveys the paradoxical nature of the nature’s power: on the one hand, it is destructive and overwhelming, capable of “strafing” and “pummeling” the island’s inhabitants, and on the other hand, it is also a natural force that operates according to its own internal logic and rhythm.
-By describing nature as “exploding comfortably,” Heaney suggests that it is not simply a chaotic or random phenomenon, but rather a cyclical and predictable one that follows its own pattern of expansion and contraction
-juxtaposition highlights the way in which humans are both awed by and fearful of the power of nature, as well as the idea that nature is indifferent to human experience.
-By using the word “exploding,” Heaney also creates a sense of suddenness and violence, further emphasizing the unpredictable and dangerous aspects of nature
cat
‘spits like a tame cat turned savage’
-Mistaken belief they had tamed nature – then the cat turns against its owner. Replicates how the islanders never owned nature – it was always more powerful than them. Splits the tamed and known nature before from the violent aggressive storm
lonely
‘nor are there trees which might prove company’
-lonely,baren island
