3.1.4

Key Quotes & Comparisons

Test yourself

Key Quotations in Storm on the Island

Here are key quotations to remember for your exam:

Illustrative background for “We are prepared: we build our houses squat”Illustrative background for “We are prepared: we build our houses squat” ?? "content

“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.
Illustrative background for “You can listen to the thing you fear..."Illustrative background for “You can listen to the thing you fear..." ?? "content

“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.
Illustrative background for “Spits like a tame cat / Turned savage”Illustrative background for “Spits like a tame cat / Turned savage” ?? "content

“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.
Illustrative background for “We are bombarded by the empty air”Illustrative background for “We are bombarded by the empty air” ?? "content

“We are bombarded by the empty air”

  • Military metaphor.
  • "Bombarded" relates to air strikes.
Illustrative background for “Strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear”Illustrative background for “Strange, it is a huge nothing that we fear” ?? "content

“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.

Key Comparisons: Storm on the Island

Here are some themes that come up in Storm on the Island and other texts:

Illustrative background for Power of nature vs power of humansIllustrative background for Power of nature vs power of humans ?? "content

Power of nature vs power of humans

  • You may want to compare the theme of the power of nature vs power of humans in Storm on the Island to the following texts:
    • The Prelude.
    • Exposure.
    • Tissue.
Illustrative background for Unpleasant and/or powerful experiencesIllustrative background for Unpleasant and/or powerful experiences ?? "content

Unpleasant and/or powerful experiences

  • You may want to compare the theme of unpleasant and/or powerful experiences in Storm on the Island to the following texts:
    • The Prelude.
    • Exposure.
    • London.
    • Remains.
    • Bayonet Charge.

Jump to other topics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

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Themes 2

End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney