Page 2: Analysis of "Follower"
This page presents the full text of Seamus Heaney's poem "Follower" along with a detailed analysis of its structure, language, and themes. The poem is composed of six quatrains, each contributing to the overall narrative of the changing father-son relationship.
The first quatrain introduces the father figure, describing him working with a horse-plough. Heaney uses vivid imagery to portray his father's strength and skill:
Quote: "My father worked with a horse-plough, / His shoulders globed like a full sail strung / Between the shafts and the furrow."
This powerful imagery establishes the father as a figure of admiration and expertise in the traditional farming methods that feature prominently in Seamus Heaney's poetry.
The subsequent quatrains detail the father's proficiency in ploughing, emphasizing his precision and control:
Example: "An expert. He would set the wing / And fit the bright steel-pointed sock. / The sod rolled over without breaking."
The poem then shifts focus to the young Heaney, who struggles to keep up with his father:
Quote: "I stumbled in his hob-nailed wake, / Fell sometimes on the polished sod;"
This contrast between the father's expertise and the son's clumsiness highlights the theme of admiration and the desire to emulate one's parent.
The final quatrain presents a poignant role reversal:
Quote: "But today / It is my father who keeps stumbling / Behind me, and will not go away."
This powerful conclusion illustrates the cyclical nature of life and the changing dynamics between generations.
Highlight: The poem's structure and language choices effectively convey the evolution of the father-son relationship, from the son's initial admiration and desire to emulate his father, to the eventual role reversal in later life.
Throughout the poem, Heaney employs various literary devices such as metaphors, juxtaposition, and vivid imagery to create a rich, multi-layered Seamus Heaney Follower poem analysis. These techniques not only bring the farming scenes to life but also serve to deepen the emotional resonance of the changing relationship between father and son.
