Seamus Heaney's Storm on the Island and Walt Whitman's Patrolling Barnegat which were written in 1966 and 1856 respectively are two classical poems describing vividly

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How the poems I have studied explored nature and its effect.

          Seamus Heaney’s Storm on the Island and Walt Whitman’s Patrolling Barnegat which were written in 1966 and 1856 respectively are two classical poems describing vividly the horror and insecurity experienced by human’s during a wild storm. Storm on the Island and Patrolling Barnegat have many similarities and differences, the similarities reside around each writer’s description of a storm but the differences are mainly due to the writer’s on personal attitude and approach to a storm and how they apply it to their writing.

        At the beginning of Heaney’s Storm on the Island he clearly highlights that they have prepared for a storm

“We are prepared; we build our houses squat”,

Heaney also makes it clear that there is no company or shelter on the island

“Nor are there trees that might prove company when it blows full blast”.

Throughout the poem Heaney is describing the elements that have to be faced during a storm, he describes the wind, the sea and the fear they produce. In contrast to Heaney, Whitman begins his poem with a prompt and vivid description of the storm and his dramatic account of a storm continues throughout the poem.

        Whitman’s portrayal of the storm is somewhat different to that of Heaney as it is more sophisticated and complex,

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“Steady the roar of the gale, with incessant undertone muttering”.

        The attitude of each poet towards the poem plays a prominent role in the style and rhythm of each poem. In brief it is quite clear that Heaney’s attitude to a storm is one of complete wonder and awe and acknowledgement at the sheer power of nature,

“Spits like a tame cat turned savage”, this quote is very indicative of that. In contrast to this Whitman’s outlook to a storm is one that suggests that he wants the reader to be aware of the threatening and aggressive nature of a ...

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