storm on the island

• "We are prepared" "It is a huge nothing that we fear"


  The first line gives us an impression of safety but we find out that at the end the humans can't compete with nature.There is nothing the islanders can do to stop the storms, the thing they fear is nothing solid that they can change, they just have to withstand the storms.
• "Exploding comfortably"


  Juxtaposes ideas of fear and safety, presents the idea that humans can't combat the storm but can hide from it in their houses.Reinstates ideas that the power of humans is insignificant when compared to nature.
• "Blast" "Pummels"


  Plosive, forceful sounds emphasise the power of nature.
• "Bombarded by the empty air"


  Words from the lexical field of war makes the island seem like a battlefield. Emphasises the danger of the storm.
• "Tame cat turned savage"


  Shows that even familiar things can turn violent and scary during these storms.
• "leaves and branches can raise a tragic chorus in a gale,"


  Heaney uses the metaphor... to show how much damage the winds can really cause.
• "So that you can live in fear forgetting that it pummels your house too."


  Heaney uses alliteration in the quote... as the "f" sound creates a sinister image of the storm.
• "No natural shelter,"


  Storm on the Island has a quote that shows that nature isn't protecting the humans on the island - nature is in control and is making life hell down there...
• "Like a tame cat turned savage,"


  Heaney has a clever use of a simile in the quote... to show that the sea can suddenly turn dangerous in a storm.
• "Strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear."


  Heaney uses a oxymoron in the quote... to suggest that the wind is invisible, so it shouldn't be feared, but is due to the raging storm.