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Storm on the Island - Coggle Diagram
Storm on the Island
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Power of Nature
There are two aspects of nature described in the poem, and both have a negative effect on the islanders
The island is inhospitable because nothing can grow there- the earth is "wizened" and there are no trees or "stacks/Or stooks"
However, it's the extremes of nature that the islanders fear- war imagery is used to suggest that nature is attacking the island- it's "bombarded by the empty air" and the wind "strafes" it.
Negative Emotions. Fear
There is also a progression from security to fear in 'Storm on the Island'. The confident opening of "We are prepared" has changed to a confession of "fear" by the end of the poem
The fear is amplified because nature is an invisible, abstract force- the speaker calls the storm "a huge nothing". This highlights the fact that the islanders can do nothing to combat it.
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About
The narrator describes how a community thinks it's well-prepared for a coming storm. As the poem goes on, their confidence starts to disappear as the storm develops. The power and the sounds of the storm are described.The ending of the poem describes the fear as the storm hits the island
Use of sounds
Forceful sounds (e.g. "Blasts") are use to demonstrate the strength of nature, and the poem also uses assonant and sibilant sounds to reflect the noise f the wind and waves
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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
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Power of Humans
Human power is ultimately insignificant compared to nature, which is vast and timeless
Heaney was born in Northern Ireland to a farming family- much of his poetry is centred on the countryside and farm life that he knew as a child. In the late 60s, right up until the 90s, there was conflict in Northern Ireland between the Unionists (a group who wanted to remain in UK) and the Nationalists (a group who wanted to keep Ireland separate). This poem considers the power of nature.