“We are prepared: we build our houses squat, sink walls in rock and roof them with good slate”
Power of NaturePower
Context: The opening lines describe the islanders' defensive preparations against storms.
Analysis
The confident declarative "We are prepared" and the solid, monosyllabic "squat", "rock", "slate" suggest human resilience and control. The collective "We" builds a sense of community defiance against nature. Yet this early confidence is gradually undermined as the storm reveals human powerlessness.
Language Techniques:
DeclarativeMonosyllablesCollective pronoun
Exam Tip
Use to show initial human confidence that nature later destroys. Some note the opening letters of "Storm on the" — a possible nod to Stormont/Northern Ireland conflict.