‘Hurricane Hits England’ and ‘Search For My Tongue’ comparison
Search for my tongue and Hurricane Hits England both explore the ideas of identity and a sense of belonging, though using different methods, and in a different sense all together.
Search for my tongue uses a tongue and hurricane hits England uses a hurricane to explore the poems. A tongue and hurricane is effective because it gives the reader something to visualise in their mind, rather than just saying language in search for my tongue. A hurricane also reflects the mayhem in the character’s mind. A hurricane and tongue are similar, as they both are typical of the characters’ original home.
Search for my tongue opens by being very personal with the reader by saying ‘you ask me what I mean by saying I have lost my tongue’. This opens a close relationship between the reader and the character. Also this indicates to the reader that the character is confused, as the character opens an opportunity to answer the question that was never asked. Enjambment indicates growing frustration particularly in the next few lines of the poem, possibly because people don’t understand her, even though she speaks a language she learnt so people would understand. She then continues in the poem by directly laying the dilemma before them, and demanding what they would do. This opening proves to be striking, because it allows the reader to investigate for themselves the problems she has faced or is facing.