Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

Test yourself

Key Quotations in Storm on the Island

Here are key quotations to remember for your exam:

“We are prepared: we build our houses squat”

Emphatic opening line and caesura.
- The poem opens with a strong statement. This emphasises the confidence and sense of security of the Islanders.
The use of caesura (break in the line) reinforces this because it conveys the speaker’s certainty as well as the sense that they are safely barricaded in their homes.

“You can listen to the thing you fear..."

“You can listen to the thing you fear / Forgetting that it pummels your house too.”
Danger imagery.

“Spits like a tame cat / Turned savage”

Simile.
This gives the impression that the storm is wild and uncontrollable.
It also reminds readers that something that seems innocent can be deadly.

“We are bombarded by the empty air”

Military metaphor.
"Bombarded" relates to air strikes.

“Strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear”

Juxtaposition and irony.
The juxtaposition of “huge nothing that we fear” in the final line highlights how strange the situation is. Despite huge physical preparations, ultimately it is only air, something that cannot even be seen or touched, that is frightening.
The contrast between “huge nothing” and “rock” at the start of the poem makes the storm seem even more menacing because human preparation is not sufficient protection.

1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

1.1Ozymandias Analysis

1.1.1Summary

1.1.2Key Ideas

1.1.3Themes

1.1.4Irony & Rhythm

1.1.5Key Quotes & Comparisons

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Ozymandias

1.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Caesura

1.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Caesura

1.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Analysing Caesura

2London - William Blake (1757-1827)

2.1London Analysis

2.1.1Summary

2.1.2Themes & Structure

2.1.3Themes & Structure 2

2.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - London

2.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Repetition

2.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Repetition

2.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Analysing Repetition

3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

3.1Storm on the Island Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure

3.1.2Themes

3.1.3Themes 2

3.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney

3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fear

4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

4.1Exposure Analysis

4.1.1Summary

4.1.2Personification

4.1.3Themes

4.1.4Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

4.1.5End of Topic Test - Exposure

4.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Define Personification

4.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ident. Personification

5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

5.1War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary

5.1.2Themes

5.1.3Imagery

5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes

5.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Similes

5.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Similes

6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

6.1My Last Duchess Analysis

6.1.1Summary

6.1.2Characterisation & Themes

6.1.3Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

6.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning

6.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cheating Wife

7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

7.1Extract from The Prelude Analysis

7.1.1Summary

7.1.2Personification & Imagery

7.1.3Themes

7.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

7.1.5End of Topic Test - The Prelude

7.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - "Her"

8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

8.1Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis

8.1.1Summary

8.1.2Themes

8.1.3Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons

8.1.4End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade

8.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Charge of the Light Brigade

8.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Tennyson a Soldier?

9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

9.1Bayonet Charge Analysis

9.1.1Summary

9.1.2Themes

9.1.3Themes 2

9.1.4Structure & Key Comparisons

9.1.5End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge

9.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - NOT COTLB

9.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Soldier Running Away

10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

10.1Poppies Analysis

10.1.1Summary

10.1.2Theme of Motherhood

10.1.3Imagery

10.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

10.1.5End of Topic Test - Poppies

10.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Enjambment

11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

11.1Tissue Analysis

11.1.1Summary

11.1.2Themes & Symbolism

11.1.3Religion & Conflict

11.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

11.1.5End of Topic Test - Tissue

12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

12.1The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure

12.1.2Themes

12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree

12.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Emigrant vs Immigrant

13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

13.1Kamikaze Analysis

13.1.1Summary & Structure

13.1.2Themes

13.1.3Themes 2

13.1.4Structure, Quotes & Comparisons

13.1.5End of Topic Test - Kamikaze

13.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining NP

13.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying NP

14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

14.1Checking Out Me History Analysis

14.1.1Summary

14.1.2Themes

14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

14.1.4End of Topic Test - Checking Out Me History

15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

15.1Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary

15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma

15.1.3Themes: Guilt

15.1.4Themes: Nature of War

15.1.5Structure

15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons

15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains

15.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Casual Tone

16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

17Recap: Main Quotes

17.1Recap: Main Quotes

17.1.1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

17.1.2London - William Blake (1757-1827)

17.1.3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

17.1.4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

17.1.5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

17.1.6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

17.1.7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

17.1.8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

17.1.9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

17.1.10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

17.1.11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

17.1.12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

17.1.13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

17.1.14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

17.1.15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

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