Comparing 'Storm on the Island' and 'Exposure'
Both poets portray nature as powerful and something which cannot be controlled by man. In both poems the weather contributes to the overall effect on the reader.
In 'Exposure' Owen uses weather to achieve effect at the beginning of the poem with the quotes: 'the merciless iced east winds' , 'mad gusts tugging' and 'clouds sag stormy'. These quotes set a theme for the rest of the poem, of pain, suffering and anticipation. The word, 'merciless' means to be cruel and show no mercy, it shows that the wind is relentless and abuses the soldiers. The use of 'tugging' can be perceived in different ways. One way, referring to the weather, as the 'tugging' of the wind at the front line, and another as …show more content…
Additionally the metaphor 'brains ache' implies that they are mentally drained from the stresses of war and their 'brains' are in pain from constant reminders and ceaseless pestering of the enemy. On the contrary, Heaney starts his poem with the feeling of strength and solidarity. The caesura 'we are prepared' makes you stop and think about why they are prepared and why the feeling is so confident. The use of personification in the phrase 'wizened earth' show that the earth could be a person and is an unruly and unpredictable being, who is capable of anything. 'Wizened' means shrivelled or wrinkled with age, this could mean that the earth is old and tired so has 'never troubled us with hay', alternatively it implies that the earth is strong and able to withstand the 'Storm on the Island'. All of the quotes throughout the beginning of the poem, for instance, 'has never troubled us', 'there are no stacks or stooks that can be lost’ and 'Nor are there trees which might prove company' all show that they aren't afraid because there is nothing to loose and nothing to gain when 'it blows full'. By saying that the 'nor are there trees which might prove company' it implies that the island is a lonely place with nothing but itself and the sea as company. If there
Both poets portray nature as powerful and something which cannot be controlled by man. In both poems the weather contributes to the overall effect on the reader.
In 'Exposure' Owen uses weather to achieve effect at the beginning of the poem with the quotes: 'the merciless iced east winds' , 'mad gusts tugging' and 'clouds sag stormy'. These quotes set a theme for the rest of the poem, of pain, suffering and anticipation. The word, 'merciless' means to be cruel and show no mercy, it shows that the wind is relentless and abuses the soldiers. The use of 'tugging' can be perceived in different ways. One way, referring to the weather, as the 'tugging' of the wind at the front line, and another as …show more content…
Additionally the metaphor 'brains ache' implies that they are mentally drained from the stresses of war and their 'brains' are in pain from constant reminders and ceaseless pestering of the enemy. On the contrary, Heaney starts his poem with the feeling of strength and solidarity. The caesura 'we are prepared' makes you stop and think about why they are prepared and why the feeling is so confident. The use of personification in the phrase 'wizened earth' show that the earth could be a person and is an unruly and unpredictable being, who is capable of anything. 'Wizened' means shrivelled or wrinkled with age, this could mean that the earth is old and tired so has 'never troubled us with hay', alternatively it implies that the earth is strong and able to withstand the 'Storm on the Island'. All of the quotes throughout the beginning of the poem, for instance, 'has never troubled us', 'there are no stacks or stooks that can be lost’ and 'Nor are there trees which might prove company' all show that they aren't afraid because there is nothing to loose and nothing to gain when 'it blows full'. By saying that the 'nor are there trees which might prove company' it implies that the island is a lonely place with nothing but itself and the sea as company. If there