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An African Thunderstorm - Literature Notes


Please note that the information given on this poem is not meant to replace any material given in the classroom setting. It is a very BASIC giude to enable a literal understanding of the poem. Metaphorical interpretations should be sought in the classroom. 

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.

From the west
1.Clouds come  hurrying with the wind
4.Turning
Sharply
Here and there
3.Like a plague of locusts
Whirling
3.Tossing up things on its tail
Like a madman chasing nothing.
1.Pregnant clouds
1.Ride stately on its back
5.Gathering to perch on hills
Like dark sinister wings;
The Wind whistles by
1./2.And trees bend to let it pass.

In the village
6.Screams of delighted children
Toss and turn
7.In the din of the whirling wind.
Women -
Babies clinging on their backs - 
Dart about
In and out
8.Madly
The Wind whirls by
1./2.Whilst trees bend to let it pass.
3.Clothes wave like tattered flags
Flying off
To expose dangling breasts
As 9.jaggered blinding flashes
Rumble, tremble and crack
Amidst the smell of fired smoke
And the 10.pelting march of the storm.

Rubadiri, D. 'An African Thunderstorm' in A World of Poetry. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd, 2005.

This is the OPINION of one individual, which might not coincide with the views of others.

LITERAL MEANING
The persona gives a vivid description of an African thunderstorm. It comes in from the west, with clouds and wind, followed by lightening (www.bulbsoup.com) and rain. The village children respond to the coming storm with screams of delight and mothers respond by dashing madly about and trying to get out of the storm.

LITERARY DEVICES
1. PERSONIFICATION
  • Stanza 1, line 2: This personification emphasizes the movement of the rain clouds. They are moving just as quickly as the wind. The wind, when moving quickly, is a violent entity because it sweeps up everything in its path and destroys it. Therefore, the fact that the clouds are keeping pace with the wind, a level of violence is implied in the movement of the clouds. We can almost visualize it whipping and whirling. This action stands out because we are used to clouds being fluffy, soft and floating in its movement.  
  • Stanza 1, line 10: The word pregnant implies swollen; swollen belly, ankles, legs and the list continues. Therefore, the (www.bulbsoup.com) clouds are swollen with rain. This implies that the storm has not revealed its true strength at this point. There is more to come.
  • Stanza 1. line 11: When the cloud's journey on the wind's back is described as stately, we get an image of some-one gracefully riding a horse. This image, therefore, not only communicates grace, but speed as well. The storm is fast paced, and as a result, there is an implication of violence.
  • Stanza 1, line 15: This personification shows the strength of the wind. The trees are being tossed and turned in the very strong wind.

2. REPETITION
  • Stanza 2, line 11: The strength of the wind is, again, emphasized through the repetition of the action of the trees. They cannot withstand the strength of the wind, so even though they stand in place, they are whipped about and manipulated by the wind. 

3. SIMILE
  • Stanza 1, line 6: The wind and clouds approach like a plague of lotus. This highlights the sheer volume, or quantity, of the wind and clouds. Locusts are usually associated with large numbers and destruction, so the implication is that there are large numbers of rain clouds, coupled with seriously strong wind, which equates to destruction.
  • Stanza 1, line 8-9: This simile compares the wind to a mad man. This association highlights the lack of structure, thought, or reason, which with the wind moves and destroys. A mad man is someone without reason, the wind operates without reason as well. It operates on sheer force and power, with no explainable structure.
  • Stanza 2, lines 12-13: This simile highlights the strength of the wind. It can literally rip someone's clothes to shreds, while it is on their bodies. This is a display of force and strength because it now moves from controlling and manipulating nature, for example the trees, to impacting humans on a personal level.​

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
4. 'Turning
     Sharply'
This phrase shows the movement of the wind, which is not static, but seems almost alive in its movements. Its restlessness is also highlighted through the use of the word sharply. So its movements are abrupt, at times, while also insistent in its movement.
5. 'Gathering to perch on hills.'
This phrase likens the wind to a bird of prey. It is perched in waiting for its next victim. This emphasizes that the wind is aiming to destroy.
6. 'Screams of delighted children toss and turn'
This highlights how the wind manipulates sound. It takes the children's screams and tosses and turns them. The power of the wind is highlighted here. It controls the movement of objects (www.bulbsoup.com) and people, and it manipulates sound. Its manipulation of sound also implies that the wind, itself, is very loud.
7. 'In the din of the whirling wind'
Din means a loud, unpleasant and prolonged noise. This is a clear indication that the wind is extremely loud.
8. 'Madly'
This word emphasizes the chaos of the atmosphere. The mothers are dashing wildly about and the wind is wreaking its destruction. The scene has devolved into disorder and chaos.
9. 'jaggered blinding flashes'
This is a visual image of the lightning that is streaking through the sky. The blinding flashes brings to mind the flash of a camera, but these flashes are continuous and unpredictable.
10. 'pelting march of the storm'
This highlights how persistent the rain was. The term march, brings to mind organized soldiers performing a task, therefore, when it is associated with the rain, it highlights the consistent, and persistent, nature of the rain in the African storm.

MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is calm. The persona is calmly reporting on the storm and painting vivid images.

TONE
The tone of the poem is reflective. The persona is reporting on the storm.

THEMATIC CATEGORY
Nature.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas


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