Seamus Heaney: 'Follower' Mr Bruff Analysis

Summary

In this detailed analysis of Seamus Heaney's poem 'Follower,' the speaker delves into the poet's background and the thematic exploration of father-son relationships. Heaney's early life on a farm and admiration for his father's skill in plowing are central to the poem's narrative, illustrating the changing dynamics between parent and child over time. The speaker also explores the use of structure, rhyme, and metaphor, with particular focus on how Heaney’s precise language reflects both the lost art of rural life and the emotional complexities of familial love. The analysis also links the poem to Heaney’s broader poetic themes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sheamus Heaney, born in 1939 in Northern Ireland, is a renowned poet who grew up in a farming family, with his father working as a cattle dealer.
• 😀 Heaney's early poetry focused on themes of childhood, identity, and rural life, which are prominent in his poem 'Follower'.
• 😀 The poem 'Follower' was written in 1963 and explores the father-son relationship and Heaney's admiration for his father's farming skills.
• 😀 Heaney viewed the process of writing poetry as closely related to traditional crafts, such as thatching and divining for water.
• 😀 The poem reflects a shift in the father-son dynamic, with the speaker's admiration for his father transforming into a realization that his father now follows him.
• 😀 Heaney felt nervous about how his father would respond to the poem, as it portrayed him in a personal and potentially vulnerable light.
• 😀 The poem uses specific farming terminology, such as 'shaftharps', 'furrow', 'wing', and 'hob-nailed', which adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.
• 😀 The structure of 'Follower' is highly ordered with a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme and iambic tetrameter, reflecting the precise nature of plowing.
• 😀 The changing rhyme scheme from full rhyme to half rhyme mirrors the shift from the idealized father to the more clumsy and imperfect son.
• 😀 The poem uses nautical metaphors, such as the comparison between the smooth motion of plowing and sailing, to emphasize the father's skill and the contrast with the son's awkwardness.

Q & A

Who is Seamus Heaney, and why is he considered an important poet?

Seamus Heaney was a Nobel Prize-winning poet from Northern Ireland, born in 1939. He is renowned for his focus on childhood, identity, rural life, and relationships, particularly the relationship between the speaker and their father. Heaney’s poetry has gained widespread recognition for its precise language, use of imagery, and his exploration of Irish culture and the rural experience.

What is the main theme of Heaney's poem 'Follower'?

'Follower' explores the changing nature of the father-child relationship, focusing on admiration and respect for the father's skill in farming and the eventual role reversal where the child becomes the leader. The poem also touches on the theme of growing up and identity formation, capturing Heaney's personal childhood experiences and reflections.

How does the poet use structure in 'Follower' to reflect the themes of the poem?

The structure of 'Follower' is ordered and consists of four-line stanzas with an iambic tetrameter rhythm, which mirrors the ordered nature of farming and the father's skill. The use of full rhyme in the first three stanzas emphasizes the perfection of the father’s work, while the introduction of half rhyme in the final stanzas reflects the speaker's imperfections as a child, highlighting the theme of change in their relationship.

What does the use of 'half rhyme' in the later stanzas of the poem signify?

The half rhyme in the final stanzas represents the speaker's sense of inadequacy compared to his father. While the father’s actions are depicted with full rhyme, symbolizing skill and perfection, the speaker’s actions are described with half rhyme, suggesting a sense of clumsiness and incompleteness, emphasizing the gap between the two in terms of abilities.

What role does imagery play in 'Follower', particularly with references to sailing?

Imagery in 'Follower' uses sailing metaphors to depict the skill and grace of the father. For example, the father's movements while plowing are compared to a sailing ship cutting through water, symbolizing control and expertise. This imagery contrasts with the speaker's awkwardness and failure to match the father’s skill, enhancing the poem's themes of admiration and the passage of time.

What significance does the title 'Follower' have in the context of the poem?

The title 'Follower' reflects both the literal action of the young speaker following his father around the farm and the metaphorical sense of the speaker being in awe of his father’s skill. It also alludes to the changing dynamic in the relationship, as the poem ends with the father following the son, illustrating the shift in their roles over time.

How does Heaney reflect the theme of nostalgia for rural life in 'Follower'?

Heaney's use of precise, detailed descriptions of farming equipment and techniques, along with the past tense used throughout the poem, evokes a sense of nostalgia for a disappearing rural way of life. He expresses admiration for the skill involved in these activities, mourning their gradual disappearance as modernity takes hold.

What is the significance of the metaphor 'my father's shoulders globed like a full sail'?

This metaphor compares the father’s posture while plowing to the billowing sail of a ship. It highlights the strength and skill of the father, suggesting that his work is effortless and graceful, much like a sailing vessel cutting through water. This metaphor reinforces the admiration the speaker has for his father and the sense of mastery in his actions.

What does Heaney mean by 'the changing nature of a parental relationship' in 'Follower'?

Heaney explores how the parent-child relationship evolves over time. As a child, the speaker looks up to his father, imitating his actions. However, as he grows older, the roles reverse, and it is now the father who follows the son. This shift reflects the natural progression of life and the changing dynamics between parent and child.

What does the 'onsent' structure device in 'Follower' reveal about the poem’s meaning?

The use of enjambment, where sentences spill over into the next line without a pause, mirrors the continuous, seamless nature of the father's work. It also reflects the flow of life, where the past and present are connected, and the poem itself mimics the rhythm of plowing, suggesting that both the poet and the father are engaged in a similar creative process.