The people in "Storm on the Island" must have a complicated relationship to home. On the one hand, this is where they live, so they feel some ownership of the land, but on the other, the land is super harsh and they are afraid of the violent storms. It must be tough, feeling tied to a place where it is so difficult to live. They do seem to have a bit of pride for the craftsmanship of their houses, though. They're proud of how sturdily they're built to keep out the extreme weather. In this case, home isn't where the heart is, but where the wind blows.
Questions About The Home
- Do you think it's possible for the people of the island to feel both at home with and afraid of the elements?
- Why would they make their homes on land that yields no crops or vegetation? What's the point?
- What does the way they build their houses (see lines 1-2) say about the kind of people who make their homes on the island?
- If their homes are constantly being bombarded by storms, why don't these people just move?
Chew on This
It would do no good to move. This poem shows us that, in our own way, each of us is an islander, surrounded by the power of Mother Nature.
It doesn't matter that the weather is terrible, and the land is dry; the people have each other, and that's good enough for them—aww.