comparing storm on the island to exposure

what themes do they both explore?

both Seamus Heaney and Wilfred Owen explore:

the extreme power of nature, especially over human life

human vulnerability and insignificance in the face of natures immense forces

nature as the enemy

quotes for storm on the island - nature as a threat and powerful

‘spits like a tame cat turned savage’ - simile - re-enforces deceptiveness and nature elevating its power - alliteration of sibilance - reflects the danger and aggression of the storm

‘and strafes invisibly. Space is a salvo. We are bombarded…’ - metaphor of war - highlights the brutality and violence of the storm which suggests nature is in conflict with human kind - semantic field of battle

quotes for exposure - nature as a threat and powerful

‘merciless iced east winds that knive us’ - personification: weather is the enemy; portrayed as a killer - brutal/deadly - sibilant sounds makes wind sound aggressive/ harsh - links to ‘all their eyes are ice’ - cyclical - death/ shocking

‘pale flakes with fingering stealth come feeling for our faces’ - personification: makes the weather appear sinister - suggesting man are fearful and victims of the weather - alliteration ‘f’ re-enforces how nature is like a quiet killer - menacing

use of pararhyme in 1st paragraph - emphasises the lack of harmony between man and nature

quotes for storm on the island - speaker feels prepared for the encounter with nature

‘exploding comfortably’ - oxymoron - shows how nature is unpredictable and deceptive however could also be interpreted that violence and fear is normalised for those impacted as if it is familiar to them - links to NI political conflict

‘we are prepared’ - short impact clause - emphasises confidence and sense of security - even though this confidence does not last and the poem ends with ‘fear’- they initially had a sense of preparation and strength

quotes for exposure - attacked from the beggining

‘but nothing happens’ x4 - repetition of last lines of stanzas: shows how winter weather seems endless to them - nothing changes as the threat and suffering is constant - links to how structure of each stanza is identical - experience doesn’t change and they just have to endure the winter weather

‘our ghosts drag home’ - metaphor - suggests they already see themselves as dead as they do not think they will survive the extreme weather - owen showing how nature is deadlier than human enemy

quotes for both (small paragraph) - idea of homeland

SOTI - comfort of home and preparation

Exposure - away from home however feel a determination to protect their homeland- adds to vulnerability - ‘crusted dark red jewels’ - home is precious - warmth contrasting cold weather