1. With detailed weather forecasts on television, and weather applications on phones and tablets, why does the weather still surprise us at times?
2. Do you think Irish people are always well-prepared for different types of weather?
3. If you were to use different types of weather as metaphors for different types of emotions, give examples of the metaphors you would use.
COMPREHENDING AND RESPONDING
1. What does the first line of this poem tell us about the approaching weather? 2. How could the speaker know what weather is coming ‘better than the instrument’?
3. What image of the speaker in the poem do you form, having read stanza one? Refer to this stanza in support of your answer.
4. Explain this line from stanza two in your own words: ‘Weather abroad/ And weather in the heart alike come on/ Regardless of prediction.’
5. In stanza three Rich claims that no matter how sophisticated an instrument, it still cannot protect us against the weather. Do you agree or disagree with this claim? Support your answer with reference to the poem.
6. How does the speaker prepare for the storm in the final stanza? Refer to the final stanza in support of your answer.
7. If this storm is an emotional one, what steps do you think the speaker could take to protect herself? Refer to the poem in support of your answer.
8. How would you describe the tone of this poem? Support your answer with reference to the poem.
9. Do you think that this poem gives us an insight into Adrienne Rich’s personality? Support your answer with reference to the poem.
10. What theme or themes can you find in this poem? Refer to the poem in support of your answer.
CREATING
1. Your school is running a Wellbeing Week. You have been asked to write a reflection on how to keep going during difficult times for a supportive booklet that is being distributed to all students. Write the text of the piece that you would write.
2. Write a humorous article about Irish people’s obsession with the weather.
3. Imagine you are one hundred years old. Write a letter to yourself at the age you are now, advising yourself not to worry over things you cannot control, and to live your life to the fullest.
