Compare the ways in which the two poems 'digging' and 'follower' explore the relationship between the poet and his father

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Romy Noonan 10M2

Compare the ways in which the two poems ‘digging’ and ‘follower’ explore the relationship between the poet and his father

Seamus Heany’s Poems ‘Digging’ and ‘Follower’ explore Heaney’s life on his farm in Ireland with his father.  In both poems, heany talks of how he had a choice to take one of two paths, one of which was to follow in his ancestor’s footsteps and become a farmer, the other was to become a writer.  In ‘Follower’ heany aspires to be like his father, where as in ‘Digging’ he still admires his ancestors, but he wishes to take a different route in life.  In this essay I intend to look at how the father/son relation ship is shown in both poems through the titles, themes, structure/style and language.

The title ‘Follower’ literal and metaphorical, as it is about Heaney following his father. It tells us of how Heaney trudged after his father, as he desired to be like him and how he carefully watched his every move.  It is also metaphorical as its could mean more than Heaney following his father. His father could be a memory in his head, which follows him around constantly reminding him of his expert ploughing and how he must live up to his fathers reputation.  

The title of ‘Digging’ is also very significant as it talks about how his father is digging with the plough, but Heaney is digging with his pen.  This is suggesting he has broken away from his father and turned to writing.  It could also be metaphorical as he talks of ‘digging with his pen’.

Seamus Heaney uses different themes to explore the father/son relationship.  One particular theme that crops up in each poem is farming, which was, Irelands culture and rural way of life in the past.  In ‘Digging’ Heaney talks about farming as though it is lesser than him and not worth the efforts. He is looking from a higher place down onto the field in which his father works. ‘My father, digging. I look down.’ This suggests that Heaney is inside looking on as his father ploughs the fields.  The proposal of height could also mean that Heaney sees himself as a more powerful individual than his father.  It seems to me that by looking through a window onto his father, that the window acts as an obstruction between them, meaning that gradually Heaney has become less attached to his father and his admirations have faded away.  Not only could it be a barrier between the two men, but it could also be a window to the past/future giving Heaney a clear view of what his life was, and could have been if he had chosen the path of farming.  

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‘Follower’ describes Heaney’s admiration for his father and his wish to be exactly like him.  In the beginning of the poem, the way in which Heaney describes his father suggest they had a close bond, ‘I wanted to grow up and plough’ this changes towards the end as Heaney begins to see his father as a burden upon him and his admirations towards farming start to change.  There is a theme shift around about this time as it then moves onto how Heaney aspires to break free form his cultures reins and start a different tradition, but is held ...

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