DanielleREnglishlit

About Me Tuesday, 4 January 2011 Followers

Danielle
Laurie Seamus Heaney - Storm
View my On The Island
complete profile

Blog archive

▼ 2011 (5)
▼ January (5)
Death of a
Naturalist
Death of a
Naturalist
Key Themes Death of a
-Natural Power Naturalist
-Fear and Isolation Seamus
-Mans Relationship with Nature Heaney -
Death of a
Naturalist
Key Techniques
Seamus
-Blank Verse
Heaney -
-Enjambment Storm On
-Caesura The Island
-Assonance
-Oxymoron ► 2010 (8)
-Metaphors and Similes

Lines 1-5:
Seamus repeats the word 'we' to show that the
people on the island are not alone and is also
expressing that although a storm is
brewing; he feels safe in himself - a sense of
community. To prepare themselves for the
storm - they built their houses with very thick
walls and exceedingly good slate on the roofs
to ensure their safety is ahead. Assonance is
used as the repetition of a vowel sound is
used; 'roof' and 'good'. The word wizened can
have many meanings - such as shrivelled, old
and feeble, but also can mean wise and
experienced as a strength. No nature in sight,
not a thing growing - 'the earth has never
troubled us'. In Line 1 there is an example of
caesura; this is when there is deliberate pause
in the middle of a sentence to create effect.
After the word 'prepared' there is a ':' - this
represents a caesura.
At the end of lines 1 and 2; there are end
breaks and also many comma's and fullstops to
emphasize the drama towards how much they
are preparing for the storm. In the rest of the
poem enjambment is used to make the poem
flow continuously. There is only one stanza in
the poem; this is used for a dramatic value as
Seamus is creating the effect the the storm is
on going - never ending.

Lines 6-10:
The effect of enjambment in these few lines
begin with '.. full Blast'; this is an unexpected
word and most definitely catches the reader
out. In line 7, conversational tone is used; this
addresses the reader and draws their attention
to the poem by ensuring it as being more
personal in Seamus' view for reassurance; the
leaves and branches show that he is not alone
and has always got someone to be reassured
by. Heaney uses the word 'chorus' to show how
the storm keeps returning and will not go away
full time. He also describes the wind as being a
human characteristic; 'it pummels your house'
- this is personifying the wind, referring to the
fact that the wind is annoying and almost like
he is in a constant row with the wind itself. He
explains how the wind from one moment could
be tame and calm, then within an instance it
could become wild and violent with no answer
as to why. He uses personification by
describing a cat being calm then the next
moment, due to one particular reason - the
animal turns vicious.

Posted by Danielle Laurie at 02:26

No comments:

Post a comment

Newer Post Home Older Post

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Simple theme. Powered by Blogger.