SOTI

• 'spits like a tame cat

  turned savage".


  The usage of zoomorphism highlights how nature could be deceptive with its apparent beauty or innocence but it in fact has the capacity for violence and brutality. The juxtaposition of "tame" and"savage" is used to portray the mercurial nature of the storm. Moreover, the alliterative ‘t' sound mimics the sound of water hitting the islander's homes, the poet plays on the readers senses to immerse them within the storm and convey how overwhelming it can be.
• Leaves and branches can raise a tragic chorus in a gale 


  The personifying metaphor "leaves and branches can raise a tragic chorus in a gale" hints at nature consciously tormenting man. Personification is used to imbue nature with enough power to compete with a man. Moreover, in a Greek tragedy, a "chorus" would give commentary on and explain events- the absence of trees in this case depicts the isolation of the islanders who are left alone to fight and interpret the storm.