Storm on the Island

An islander describes the community's preparations against the violent storms that revenge the island
The poem is written in blank verse with the use of alliteration and half-rhyme
The speaker speaks for a collective, or community
The poem is written in the present tense - this reinforces that storms happen all the time
"But no: when it begins, the flung spray hits"
1. "But no" at the start of the line makes it extra emphatic
"You might think that the sea is company"
1. Emphasises the emptiness of the place
the storm gathers pace as the poem develops
"And strafes invisibly. Space is a salvo"
1. "strafes" is to attack with continuous fire or bombs from an aircraft
2. "Salvo" is a sudden discharge of guns in battles.
"We are prepared: we build our houses squat"
1. "We are prepared" - shows confidence, they are ready
2. "Squat" - houses are dresigned, prepared
"Exploding comfortably" - oxymoron
Emotion - fear and darkness
"We are bombarded by the empty air"
1. Metaphor - there's nothing there

Resource summary

	Created by Kerry Moory over 7 years ago