Compare and contrast the nature of Heaney s relationship with his father in the poems Follower
“Digging and “Follower” are two poems by Seamus Heaney portraying his admiration and love for his father. Follower is a poem that describes his father ploughing and working the fields “worked with a horse plough” and Heaney following him around admiring his work. While Digging not only shows his admiration of his father but also shows what he plans to do in the future and showing a political point of view. The poem Follower, has a set structure with four line stanzas and uses half rhymes. ... In the first stanza Heaney compares his father in a simile; “like a full sail strung” sails are seen as big, strong, powerful and taught and that is how Heaney sees his father. There is also alliteration on the “s” producing a soft sound as he slides along. ... Onomatopoeias are used to excellent effect in the two poems. ... Horses are very powerful and strong animals yet his father has the ability to control them merely by the “clicking” of his tongue. ... “The sod rolled over without breaking” is another way of viewing his appreciation for his father. ... His father keeps moving at the end of the field and gently turns round without any difficulty. ... Heaney’s father uses as many senses as he can to help improve his work. Heaney admires this quality because a furrow is a very small trench, it takes practice, skill and precision. “Mapping” is a skill in it’s self. Heaney then compares himself to his father, and does not show high regard for himself. ... It shows how clumsy and almost inferior to his father. ... On the other hand his father is related to a boat again, the “wake” of the boat. ... The “polished sods” are smooth and show professionalism, but Heaney just “fell” into them as if he had damaged his fine work “I wanted to grow up and plough” Heaney noticeably wants to grow up and follow his father’s footsteps, however he feels inadequate. ... This is backed up when he talks about “his broad shadow around the farm” again it shows his father is encompassing and strong, but also outlines his weakness and imperfections.