Heaney and Whitman both associate the storm with military terms. The title ‘Patrolling Barnegat’ is self-explanatory; leading the reader to believe the poem is about a military exercise. This could be considered as a strange choice of title for a poem about such a wild, frantic experience – quite unlike a military operation. ‘Storm on the Island’ unconsciously links the storm to a war by using words indirectly related like “bombarded.”
‘Patrolling Barnegat’ is a sonnet – a poem of 14 lines, usually associated with love. It is therefore strange that Whitman uses this form of poem when depicting an experience so intense and wild, perhaps this is his perception of love. The lack of rhyming couplets and use of half rhymes at the end of each line “running/muttering/pealing” encourages the reader to feel blown along – much like a storm itself. Dissimilarly, ‘Storm on the Island’ is free verse and has no rhyme or rhythm. It uses enjambment “spits like a tame cat/Turned savage” and reads continuously somewhat like a story or a conversation. The idea that Seamus Heaney is actually speaking to his audience is reinforced by his friendly manner of speech. He uses common conversational tags “you know what I mean” the reader is then effectively drawn in and feels involved with the poem.
The language used within the poems is fairly analogous. Both use harsh sounds to create an impact. In ‘Storm on the Island’ Heaney includes the onomatopoeic word “blast” to produce an impact. It is the defining moment within the poem as it signifies the point where the storm begins. The section before illustrates the preparations for a storm with the piece after “blast” describing the storm itself. Onomatopoeic words also suggest lots of noise is occurring during the storm. ‘Patrolling Barnegat’ also utilizes harsher sounds but they are used as verbs to describe “piercing…lashing” movement, these verbs used in the present tense show the storm is terrifying as it happens.
Both poets use comparable techniques with their language. ‘Patrolling Barnegat’ uses alliteration and assonance primarily to represent the sounds of the storm. “Piercing and pealing,” and ”savagest trinity lashing.” Heaney also uses these techniques to invisibly mimic the sounds of the storm as well as emphasizing strength with the alliterative phrase “rock and roof.” ‘Patrolling Barnegat’ features a lot of repetition. Both single words, “wild, wild” and short-phrases “milk-white combs careering” are repeated to stress and emphasise important points or descriptions. Many images within the poems are personified, in ‘Patrolling Barnegat’ “demoniac laughter” is “muttered.” The eeriness of comparing storm noises to ‘demoniac laughter’ makes the storm seem even more alive and hostile. The “wizened earth” in ‘Storm on the Island’ is personified “it has never troubled us (with crops).” This statement is ironic as “wizened” at first seems to be a complaint but as the reader continues to study the poem they become aware that it is in fact a blessing.
Initially, the poems look alike as their subject matters are the same however, both poets have expressed the feelings behind a storm in different ways. They use similar techniques but convey them to have different effects and meanings.
