storm on the island

• Storm on the island

  Seamus Heaney

  SUMMARY

  • Indomitable power of nature, more specifically compared to that of humans

  • Political allegory - conflict in nature caused by storm symbolises political violence

  • Conversational tone, colloquial phrases like 'you know what I mean'
• CONTEXT

  • Written in 1966, height of 'The Troubles' in Ireland - period of bombings from terrorist organisations in effort to liberate Northern Ireland from British & Protestant control

  • 'Stormont' within title - Northern Irish parliament - conflict is hidden, simmering beneath the surface

  • Ireland economically deprived at the time
• 'We are prepared: we build our houses squat'

  • 'We' - pluralises the 1st person - sense of collective humanity against storm, terror attacks could affect anyone. Makes us feel like we are part of it

  • ':' - caesura - powerful & unexpected pause

  • 'Squat' - low-lying to withstand wind - defensive against weather - psychologically prepare for unexpected attacks
• 'Leaves and branches can raise a tragic chorus' 'But there are no trees'

  • Ancient Greek tradition, chorus comment on tragedy play. With no trees creating a tragic chorus, no way to interpret & make sense of fear. No sense of security.
• 'Spits like a tame cat turned savage'

  • 'Tame cat' - loving, domestic pet

  • 'Turned savage' enjambs to next line - unexpected shift to violence - unpredictability of war

  • 'Spits' - onomatopoeia

  • 'Hits' on line before, - assonant/vowel rhyme feels uncomfortable, 'spits' is an internal rhyme which is unexpected

  • Violent imagery
• 'Strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear'

  • 'Huge nothing' oxymoron - tension & conflict

  • Cannot see the wind, only the effect it has on life.

  • Paradox in the truth that fear is huge but cannot touch it
• STRUCTURE:

  • Enjambement - constant barrage of information, no time to process

  • Iambic pentameter - repetitive nature reflects repeated acts of violence that create an oppressive rigidity

  • 1 stanza - isolated like an island

  • Dramatic monologue - one-sided voice of islander - lack of voice of nature (war) suggests how no matter what is said, cannot be stopped

  • Chatty, colloquial language - as if we can understand & resonate
• TONE

  • Anticipation

  • Fear, dread (negative from beginning)

  • Familiarity (used to it), reflected in familiar, colloquial language
• 'This wizened earth has never troubled us with hay'

  • 'Wizened' dried up - resources shortage

  • No 'hay' - essential for farming - poor in resources like Ireland at time