Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fear
English Lit: AQA GCSE Poetry - Power & Conflict, topic 3.1.6
The People are not Afraid of the Storm
The people in 'Storm on the Island' are prepared to face the storm at the beginning of the poem.
“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.
Test yourself on Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fear
How are the people in “Storm on the Island” characterised?
Which literary device emphasise the assuredness of the islanders in their preparation for the storm?