storm on the island

• about a group of islanders preparing for a storm, considering the power of nature vs man
• "we are prepared" first line of the poem showing how the islanders may be cocky, representing how humans believe they are and always will be stronger than nature
• "blows full blast" shows the storm and nature as a weapon, gives the sense that it's similar to a gun
• "spits like a tame cat turned savage" shows that humans may think they have power over nature, however like a cat, it can take them by surprise and attack and become dangerous once again
• "strange it's a huge nothing that we fear" juxtaposition shows that while it is huge and dangerous it's short lived unlike the human who survived and rebuild
• presented as a dramatic monologue to show isolated the islanders are
• the use of the iambic pentameter shows the poem as being a conversation between Heaney and the reader, added to this is the use of conversation language such as "as you see" and "you know what i mean"
• there is no consistent rhyme scheme, perhaps showing how nature can't be controlled
• the use volta (sudden change in the mood of the poem) may show how the islanders are unable to prepare properly as they can't see it coming
• the author uses a semantic field throughout the power of military power to show that the islanders are under attack from the storm
• the author personifies the storm to attack the island
• the use of the dramatic monologue shows how the islanders are isolated, however the use of collective pronouns show them as being together, protecting each other from the storm
• Ozymandias

  similarities: the power of nature is stronger than the power of humans, as nature destroyed the statue of Ozymandias and is attacking the islanders

  in both poems the isolation leaves them weakened

  differences: both connect power with aggression however Ozymandias has the power due to his military and the storm has the power due to the aggression it is having on the island