“Space is a salvo, // We are bombarded by the empty air."

• 1. Metaphor – “Space is a salvo”

  • The word “salvo” refers to a volley of gunfire or a bombardment, comparing the storm’s empty, open space to an attack or assault.
  • This metaphor suggests that the storm is like an enemy in battle, reinforcing the poem’s theme of human vulnerability against nature’s power.

  The idea that the storm’s weapon is simply “space” highlights the paradox—there is no physical enemy, yet the destruction is real.
• 2. Violent Imagery – “We are bombarded”

  • The verb “bombarded” suggests an onslaught of relentless attacks, making nature seem hostile and aggressive.
  • This war-like imagery presents the storm as an unstoppable force, echoing the poem’s military and defensive tone, where the islanders feel under siege.

  The contrast between “bombarded” (which suggests physical attacks) and “empty air” (which suggests nothingness) creates a paradox—they are being attacked by something that cannot even be seen.
• 3. Oxymoron & Paradox – “A huge nothing that we fear”

  • The phrase “huge nothing” is an oxymoron, emphasizing the irony that the storm, which is invisible, holds so much power.
  • This reflects human vulnerability, showing how intangible forces—such as the wind, time, or even fear itself—can have tangible, devastating effects.

  The phrase also raises philosophical questions about how fear operates: do we fear the storm itself, or the uncertainty and powerlessness it represents?
• 1. Nature’s Power vs. Human Fragility

  • The poem repeatedly portrays nature as an overwhelming, unstoppable force, reducing human structures to insignificance.

  Despite all their preparations, the people on the island cannot fight or even see their enemy—they can only endure it.
• 2. The Fear of the Unknown

  • The “huge nothing” suggests that sometimes, we fear not what we see but what we imagine.

  This could reflect psychological fear—not just of storms, but of the unknown, the future, and forces beyond our control.
• 3. Political Allegory

  • Some critics interpret Storm on the Island as an allegory for The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
  • The storm could symbolize the invisible yet devastating conflict, where violence and political struggles feel like an unstoppable assault.

  The “huge nothing” could represent the uncertainty and fear surrounding the conflict, reinforcing the idea that much of what people fear is not always physical, but deeply psychological.