Storm on the Island by Seamus Heaney Exam Revision and Notes

Learning Intentions You are revising your understanding and analysis of Heaney’s poem, and adding to your existing notes. You are preparing to write more thorough and sophisticated responses to poetry questions.

TITLE: Storm on the Island Instant sense of danger / vulnerability Island detached from mainland and surrounded by water – much more exposed to ruthless elements Isolated from civilisation – sense of loneliness and alienation. Heaney offers an unsentimental portrayal of island life – it is not gentle and calm, but harsh and dangerous.

“We are prepared: we build our houses squat, Sink walls in rock and roof them with good slate.” LIST reinforces extreme measures taken to protect islanders against storm’s devastating effects. Their way of life is dictated by the elements – they must build / live this way to feel secure. BUT such architectural measures seem futile as Heaney proceeds to portray the elements as infinitely stronger than humanity, or anything man- made.

“The wizened earth had never troubled us With hay, so as you can see, there are no stacks Or stooks that can be lost” WORD CHOICE reveals island is barren and hostile – no crops or plants are permitted to flourish in such an inhospitable environment. Difficulty of island life is emphasised – what kind of livelihood must the islanders have if they cannot grow anything?

“Nor are there trees Which might prove company” Barrenness is emphasised – no trees can grow due to the dried and shrivelled earth. THEME of loneliness / solitude – there is a lack of companionship on the island, adding to Heaney’s unromantic vision. Islanders are so lonely they would even be grateful for trees to liven up their environment.

“when it blows full Blast” ‘It’ suggests the storm is too frightening to even name – also adds a sense of mystery and the unknown. Storm introduced here – ‘full blast’ immediately conveys its intensity and capacity for destruction. It is deafeningly loud and overpowering. It causes terror and panic amongst the islanders. Plosive alliteration of ‘blows’ and ‘blasts’ reflects the aggressive, violent nature of the wind.

“leaves and branches Can raise a chorus in a gale So that you can listen to the thing you fear Forgetting that it pummels your house too.” Trees would provide the islanders with a harmonious, pleasant sound when the storm hit. BUT there are no trees, so the islanders are forced to hear / see only the storm’s terrifying / devastating aspects. ‘The thing you fear ‘ – it’s too menacing and mysterious to even name – storm is a natural enigma. ‘Pummels your house’ – storm is forceful and aggressive, and makes islanders feel vulnerable in their homes (where we should feel our safest and most secure).

“But there are no trees, no natural shelter.” REPETITION of ‘no’ emphasises the hostility of nature – almost as though it is working against humanity as an enemy. Nothing can protect the islanders from the storm’s onslaught. We are also reminded of the islanders’ isolation – not only is there a lack of human companionship, there are also no pleasant or beautiful natural features which could make the harshness of island life a little more bearable. It is a lifeless place.

“You might think that the sea is company, Exploding comfortably down on the cliffs” OXYMORON of ‘exploding comfortably’ – sea is loud and destructive but harmless when there is no storm as it is distant from homes ‘down on the cliffs’. ‘Comfortably’ suggests the islanders find solace or pleasure in the ocean’s sounds as they are so lonely and desperate for any kind of companionship, even of the non-human variety.

“the flung spray hits The very windows” ‘Flung’ reminds us of the storm’s fierce, aggressive nature – if something is ‘flung’ it is thrown recklessly and with significant force, therefore damage or injury is likely. The storm once again encroaches on the islanders’ only refuge by assaulting the windows of their homes. The environment is harsh and inhospitable – island life is neither gentle nor relaxing.

“spits like a tame cat Turned savage.” IMAGERY(simile) effectively conveys the volatile, unpredictable nature of the sea. A ‘tame’ cat is harmless and pleasant company… BUT a ‘savage’ one will behave aggressively and ferociously. It may lash out and cause pain. The comparison of to cats emphasises how drastically the sea changes as soon as a storm occurs. WORD CHOICE - ‘Spits’ is a vicious and disrespectful action which further emphasises the hostility of the sea, and the idea it is an enemy of humanity.

“We just sit tight while wind dives And strafes invisibly.” CONTRASTING VERBS used to emphasise the vulnerability of humanity in comparison with the vast power of nature. ‘sit’ is a passive, weak, powerless action… BUT ‘dives’ and ‘strafes’ are extremely active, energetic, powerful movements, showing nature to have the upper hand. ‘Dives’ and ‘strafes’ have military associations, furthering the idea of the storm as an onslaught against humanity. Word choice is reminiscent of a fighter plane swooping down and assaulting the enemy.

“Space is a salvo. We are bombarded by the empty air.” Military / battle IMAGERY is extended by ‘salvo’ and ‘bombarded’. Both words imply a constant, unforgiving, ruthless assault against the island’s inhabitants. They also imply the islanders are weak and defenceless in comparison. PARADOX / CONTRADICTION – the things wreaking such havoc cannot be seen (‘space’ and ‘empty air’), therefore how can they possibly be harnessed or controlled? Again, the elements are portrayed as mystical and enigmatic, as they are able to cause disaster and catastrophe, yet are invisible. Bleak, pessimistic outlook for humanity – what hope do we have against such overpowering natural forces?

“Strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear.” Poem ends on a reflective but bleak TONE – significant contrast to assured tone of opening line. ‘Fear’ reveals the unease and vulnerability felt by the islanders in contrast to the confident ‘prepared’ of the opening. Islanders have come to realise that their efforts to protect themselves against the storm are futile. PARADOX is revisited – the biggest threat to the islanders’ safety is invisible, a ‘huge nothing.’ The wind can’t be seen; therefore how can it be tamed or fought against? CENTRAL CONCERN: powerlessness and vulnerability of humanity against the infinite, mysterious power of the natural world.

The use of enjambement / free verse The irregular structure of the poem mirrors the unpredictable, volatile nature of the storm. The poem is structurally chaotic, which reflects the havoc caused by the storm. Enjambement is used in particular when the storm’s assault is being described. This quickens the reading pace, thus mimicking the intense speed and ferocity of the storm. The overflowing nature of the enjambed lines also emphasises the idea of the storm as a constant onslaught against the islanders.

The use of sibilance SIBILANCE (alliterated ‘s’ sound) is used often when the storm is being described – “spits like a tame cat / Turned savage.” Sibilance imitates the hissing sounds made by sea and wind as they aggressively attack the island. Alliteration of ‘s’ creates a vicious, intimidating tone.