Analysis of "Follower" by Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney's poem "Follower" presents a poignant exploration of the father-son relationship in poetry, utilizing a structured ABAB rhyme scheme and vivid imagery to convey themes of admiration, childhood, and the inevitable passage of time.
The poem is divided into six quatrains, each maintaining a consistent rhythm that mirrors the steady pace of ploughing. This structure reinforces the poem's themes and adds to its musicality.
Highlight: The poem's structure, with its regular rhyme and rhythm, reflects the orderly nature of ploughing and the narrator's childhood routine of following his father.
Heaney employs rich agricultural imagery throughout the poem, painting a detailed picture of rural life and the father's expertise in farming. The opening lines immediately establish the father's commanding presence:
Quote: "My father worked with a horse-plough, / His shoulders globed like a full sail strung"
This simile not only describes the father's physical appearance but also introduces a nautical metaphor that runs through the poem, comparing the father's skill in ploughing to navigating a ship.
Vocabulary: Hob-nailed wake refers to the trail left behind by the father's boots, which have nails on the soles for better traction in the field.
The poem explores the son's admiration for his father's skill and strength, as well as his desire to emulate him. This is evident in lines such as:
Quote: "I wanted to grow up and plough, / To close one eye, stiffen my arm."
However, the young narrator acknowledges his inability to match his father's expertise, describing himself as a "nuisance, tripping, falling, / Yapping always."
The final stanza introduces a significant shift in perspective, moving from past to present tense:
Quote: "But today / It is my father who keeps stumbling / Behind me, and will not go away."
This poignant reversal of roles highlights the themes of aging, generational change, and the cyclical nature of life. It also suggests a sense of guilt or unease in the narrator as he reflects on the changed dynamic between him and his father.
Highlight: The poem's exploration of father-son relationships in poetry is both tender and complex, touching on themes of admiration, emulation, and the inevitable passage of time.
Throughout "Follower," Heaney masterfully uses structural devices in poetry GCSE such as rhyme, rhythm, and stanza organization to enhance the poem's meaning and emotional impact. The consistent ABAB rhyme scheme and four-line stanzas create a sense of order and routine, mirroring the methodical nature of ploughing and the narrator's childhood routine of following his father.
Example: The use of plosive sounds (b and p) in words like "plough," "globed," and "plod" creates a rhythmic, almost percussive effect that echoes the sounds of farm work.
In conclusion, "Follower" stands as a powerful example of how poetry structure techniques can be used to enhance meaning and emotion in verse. Its exploration of the father-son relationship in poetry resonates with readers, offering a universal reflection on family, admiration, and the passage of time.
