Comparing four poems

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Comparing The Four Poems: “Follower” by Heaney, “Catrin” by Clarke, “On my first Sonne” by Jonson and “Song of the old mother” by Yeats

     In The poems “Follower” by Heaney, “Catrin” by Clarke, “On my first sonne” by Jonson and “Song of the old mother” by Yeats, each of the poets deals with relationships in different ways. For example, some of the poems relationships are positive, some are negative. Even some about child relations and adult relations. I will also be able to compare the difference in structure and language to the pre 1914 poems and “Follower” and “Catrin”.

     Both Catrin and Follower with a parent and child relationship, both outline the positive and negative aspects. On the surface, Clarke’s poem seems to dwell on the conflict underlying the relationship with her daughter Catrin. Even in her memories of childbirth, we are offered a picture of a battle as she describes the ‘fierce confrontation’ and how they ‘fought’ over the ‘red rope of love’ in their desire to be separate. This image of conflict is further amplified with the use of words such as ‘struggle’ and ‘separate’ as Clarke tries to express the tension at this momentous time when she becomes part of another’s life and considers the restrictions and responsibilities this brings.

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     In contrast, in ‘Follower’ Heaney talks of a relationship with his farther. This is strong and positive and provides many happy memories. Heaney refers to his farther to an ‘expert’. This shows us how proud he is of his farther and how much he worships him and his skills. On he surface, Heaney poem seems to portray the positive sides to their relationship, but when he says ‘I stumbled in his hob nailed wake’, this shows us the less positive side as Heaney is saying he feels he yet doesn’t have either the strength nor skill to match ...

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