Storm on the island

• What is the storm an extended metaphor of?

  The political issues in Northern Island
• what is the significance of the title?

  First 8 letters spell out STORMONT which was the name of parliament in belfast this suggests the form of the poem is political
• what is the form of the poem?

  Political
• ‘Sink walls in rock and roof them with good slate. This wizened earth has never troubled us’?


  Sibilance: used creates a sinister mood

  The storm is sinister and therefore so is the conflict in Northern Ireland

  Consonance- suggests these are harsh times
• ‘Sink walls in rock and roof’?

  The poet is saying we build our identity through religion “walls” which ultimately “sink” and ruin us.

  The building of house “rock and roof” becomes a metaphor for how we are constructing something which is the opposite of building - sinking
• Who is the poet?

  Seamus Heaney
• Context?

  . The poem was created during a time of deep unrest in Northern Ireland
• ‘So that you listen to the thing you fear forgetting that it plummets your house too’


  .Direct address “you” , Heaney is speaking to both catholics and protestants saying they both ‘fear’ the same thing

  . They have no real conflict they are just afraid of eachother

  . If they forget their fear they will be able to live at peace with one another

  HEANEY IS SAYING stop fearing the storm and it will have no power to destroy you
• ‘forgetting that it plummets your house too’ ??


  . Eye for an eye actions in war plummets your house too

  . Violence is destroying ‘houses’ and irish way of life

  . They think they are protecting them selves however are actually destroying their own people out of fear
• so that you listen to…(quote)

  There is a sense of anger with poets use of fricatives ‘fear’ and ‘forgetting’

  Heaneys message- We are all equal and should not be at war