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Storm on the Island Seamus Heaney (Context (Northern Irish poet, conflict…
Storm on the Island Seamus Heaney
Context
Northern Irish poet
conflict in northern island - Catholics and protestants and Irish republicans wanting independence from Britain
about the Aron Islands
Form
written in blank verse mirrors the pattern of everyday speech - sounds like in a conversation
the poem is all in one stanza its compact and sturdy like the houses
Collective first person shows its a shared experience
Structure
poem shifts from security to fear
starts with "we are prepared" - strong opening contrast with the end "it is a huge nothing that we fear"
slow pace because of the caesura reflecting last moments of calm before the storm
Contrasting descriptions of safety and fear
the tone changes throughout and the sense of danger increases as familiar things become frightening during the storm
lots of words to do with security and fear
lots of words to do with security and safety in first two lines "squat", "good slate"
"we are prepared"
"it is a huge nothing that we fear"
Direct address
the reader is involved in his fear by his use of "you"
"you know what i mean"
"you can listen to the thing you fear"
Violent imagery
storm described in war like terms using similes metaphors and personification emphasising the danger and effects of the storm
"exploding comfortably" - oxymoron
"spits like a tame cat"
"strafes", "bombarded", "salvo" - words normally describe a war
Attitudes
Safety
Fear
Helplessness