Heaney's father was a farmer in rural County erry and much of HEany's poetry is about the countryside and farm life of his childhood.
Storm on the ISland could be a metaphor for the political storm that raged across Northern Ireland in the second half of the 20th century. The storm pummeling the island in the poem could represent the violence in North Ireland during the Troubles.
Overview:
The poem described the extreme force of nature and the impact that the elements have on island life. The island's occupants adapt to the demands nature places on their homes and jobs. Beginning of poem suggests readiness for storm, but as it goes on we see more violent language describing weather and war-like imagery.
"Exploding comfortably".
Oxymoron
Striking and unusual description for reader as it seems contradictory. Suggests this is something that it has done before and will do again. Appeals to senses as this is something we can visualise and imagine the sound of.
"The flung spray hits / The very windows, spits like a tame cat / Turned savage".
Simile
Sea is uncontrollable, unpredictable. Wild like a cat.
"We are bombarded by the empty air".
Image of combat. Powerful, violent verb 'bombard'
Attacked by a threat that cannot be seen. Reinforces unpredictability of attacks and powerlessness to defend against the elements.
