Hurricane by Mary Oliver

Question

The poet most likely repeats the words the back of the hand to everything to do what
Express a feeling or surprise about the way the speakers life turned out differently than expected
To describe how events in nature are cyclical and often repeat throughout history
To show how both the actual hurricane and a metaphorical hurricane or similarly destructive
to demonstrate the way that the trees and the speaker both found ways to fight back

Answer 1

In Mary Oliver's poem "Hurricane," the repetition of the phrase "the back of the hand to everything" serves to highlight how both the speaker's life and the natural world respond to overwhelming and destructive forces. The most fitting interpretation of the repetition would likely be:

To show how both the actual hurricane and a metaphorical hurricane are similarly destructive.

This interpretation captures the essence of the poem, illustrating how various struggles—both natural and personal—can leave marks and create resilience in the face of adversity. Oliver often uses nature as a metaphor for human experience, making this perspective particularly relevant to her work.