3.1.1
Summary & Structure
Summary and Context of Storm on the Island
Summary and Context of Storm on the Island
Seamus Heaney was an Irish poet who often wrote about his country and nature. Storm on the Island describes a community's response to a storm.
Summary
Summary
- The speaker describes a storm attacking the island he lives on.
- The community thought they were prepared. But as the poem goes on, it becomes clear that the storm was powerful and frightening.
- Their feelings of security turn to fear.
Context
Context
- The first eight letters of the title also spell the word 'STORMONT'.
- Stormont is an estate in Belfast. The Northern Ireland Assembly still sits there today.
- The poem has also been interpreted as a metaphor for the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Key ideas
Key ideas
- The poet explores ideas about the inhospitality and the cruelty of nature.
- Man is presented as insignificant compared to the natural world. The poem emphasises these feelings of helplessness.
- The poem encourages readers to question the source of human fear: is it the unknown that frightens us the most?
- The poem acts as a reminder of human vulnerability.
Form and Structure in Storm on the Island
Form and Structure in Storm on the Island
The structure and rhythm of the Storm on the Island changes throughout to reflect the unpredictable nature of the storm.
Rhythm and rhyme
Rhythm and rhyme
- The rhythm and rhyme scheme are unpredictable, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the storm.
Structural change
Structural change
- The poet moves from creating images of safety, to danger and destruction.
- Finally, the poet contemplates how strange it is that something that cannot be seen or touched is the source of such great fear.
Direct address
Direct address
- The poet directly addresses the reader in the poem.
- This involves the reader more and makes the storm seem more threatening, as though it is happening to you too.
1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
2London - William Blake (1757-1827)
3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)
3.1Storm on the Island Analysis
4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)
5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)
5.1War Photographer Analysis
6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
7.1Extract from The Prelude Analysis
8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson
9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)
10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)
11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)
12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)
13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)
14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)
14.1Checking Out Me History Analysis
15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)
16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons
16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons
Jump to other topics
1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
2London - William Blake (1757-1827)
3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)
3.1Storm on the Island Analysis
4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)
5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)
5.1War Photographer Analysis
6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
7.1Extract from The Prelude Analysis
8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson
9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)
10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)
11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)
12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)
13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)
14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)
14.1Checking Out Me History Analysis
15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)
16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons
16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons
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