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  • Essay / Real Storms: Analysis of “Storm Warnings”

    Everyone has faced difficult times, which can be accurately described as “dark times” or “internal storms.” In the poem "Storm Warnings", Adrienne Rich arranges the main statement of the poem in the middle of the poem in order to imitate the rise and aftermath of a real storm, to ensure the division between her external and internal storm, and to develop the uselessness of warnings. His organization of the central point of the poem is important, as it is specifically placed in the middle. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay If we look at the first two stanzas, she uses imagery to paint a picture of her surroundings. With: “The glass has been falling all afternoon” and “gray unrest is moving across the land” (Rich, line 4). For these quotes, the author describes his environment affected by the storm. What usually happens when a storm arrives, hence its buildup. Then we see her make her main statement at the end of the second stanza. “The weather abroad and the weather at home manifest themselves independently of forecasts” (Rich, line 13). It is in this verse that the author first evokes a metaphorical storm, a storm in the heart. She chose to place this shift in tone in the middle of the poem in order to mimic the events of a real storm. In the second half of the poem, the author pivoted to his actions after seeing the storm coming. She prepares herself and goes into defense mode to protect herself. “I draw the curtain as the sky turns black” (Rich, line 21). This no longer represents the preparation for the storm, but rather its consequences. The first and second stanzas depict a storm, literally, while the third and fourth stanzas describe both a literal and internal storm. She begins the poem by describing her environment affected by the storm. Rich leaves his chair to look outside as soon as signs of a storm become visible. “Watching the branches stretch against the sky” (Rich, line 7). This is a real storm because it describes the effects of the storm on external, tangible things such as the sky. However, in the second half of the poem we see the author using a metaphorical sense of protection from evil: "We can only close the shutters" (Rich, line 22). This statement signifies the helplessness and sense of hopelessness that Rich and the others feel when they realize there is little they can do to stop the storm. Rich also presents the uselessness of warnings when it comes to warding off storms. Speaking of internal storms, Rich points out that many people try to avoid change even though it's not something people can control. A storm will come no matter how careful you are. : “The weather abroad [...] appears whatever the forecast” (Rich, lines 13-14). Rich states that if the storm was predicted, it would happen, and if it wasn't, it would still happen. Not knowing it doesn't stop him from approaching. This applies to both a literal storm and an internal storm. Some try to avoid any change in their lives out of fear of chaos, creating a false sense of control over their personal and internal storms. However, as Rich says, “time in the hands is not control of time” (Rich, line 18). This is a metaphor for a watch, meaning the measurement of time, but just because you can measure time doesn't mean you control it. Likewise, during an external storm, no one has control of the weather, and..