Introduction to "Follower" by Seamus Heaney
Welcome to your study guide for Follower. This poem is a vital part of the Love and Relationships cluster in your AQA English Literature course. While many poems in this section focus on romantic love, Follower explores the deep, complex bond between a father and a son. It looks at how we admire our parents when we are young and how those relationships change as we grow older.
Don't worry if you find the farming language a bit difficult at first. We will break down exactly what Heaney is saying and why he chose those specific words to describe his father.
What is the Poem About?
In this poem, the speaker looks back at his childhood on a farm. He watches his father ploughing a field with horse-drawn equipment. The speaker expresses total admiration for his father's physical strength and technical skill. As a young boy, he tried to "follow" in his father’s footsteps but often tripped and fell.
However, the poem ends with a surprising twist. The roles have reversed: the father is now old and "stumbles" behind the son, who has grown up. This shows us that the balance of power in a relationship often shifts over time.
Key Themes
- Admiration and Hero Worship: The young boy sees his father as a powerful, almost god-like figure.
- Family Bonds: The connection between generations and the desire to be like our parents.
- Change and Aging: How time affects our bodies and our roles within the family.
- Nature and Hard Work: The respect for manual labor and the Irish rural tradition.
Language and Imagery
Seamus Heaney uses very specific language to show us how much he respected his father's work. Here are some key areas to focus on:
1. Technical Farming Language
Heaney uses words like "sock", "headland", and "ploughshare". Why? This shows that the father is "An expert". He isn't just a laborer; he is a master of his craft. For a student, think of this like a professional athlete or a master musician — someone who makes something very difficult look easy.
2. Nautical (Sea) Imagery
The speaker describes his father's shoulders as "globed like a full sail strung". Analogy: He compares his father to a powerful ship. This suggests the father is massive, strong, and capable of harnessing the power of nature (just like a ship harnesses the wind).
3. The Contrast of Movement
Look at the verbs used for the father versus the son:
- The father: "set", "fitted", "strained". (Strong, precise actions).
- The son: "stumbled", "tripped", "fell". (Clumsy, weak actions).
Key Takeaway: This highlights the gap between the father’s mastery and the boy’s struggle to keep up. It shows the boy’s vulnerability compared to his father’s strength.
Form and Structure
The way the poem is built on the page tells us a lot about its meaning.
The Stanzas: The poem is written in six stanzas, each with four lines (quatrains). The rhythm is very regular.
Why? This steady, "plodding" rhythm mimics the walking pace of the horses and the repetitive, neat rows of a ploughed field. It feels organized and disciplined, just like the father's work.
The Shift (The "Volta"): For the first five stanzas, the poem is in the past. In the final stanza, it shifts to the present day.
Quick Tip: Always look for where the "time" changes in a poem. Here, the shift shows that the "follower" is now the father, who "will not go away". This suggests that the memory of the past and the reality of the present are now intertwined.
Context (AO3)
Seamus Heaney was born in Northern Ireland and grew up on a farm. His father was a cattle dealer and a farmer. In Irish culture at that time, it was traditionally expected that the eldest son would take over the farm. However, Heaney became a poet and a teacher instead.
Important Note: The poem can be seen as a way of Heaney "ploughing" his own path through writing, even though he felt he could never match his father's physical skill. He uses his pen the way his father used a plough.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't just list farming terms: It’s not enough to say he uses farming words. You must explain that these words show the father’s expertise and the son's admiration.
- Don't forget the ending: Many students focus only on the childhood part. The ending is crucial because it shows the sadness or frustration of aging and how the father-son dynamic has flipped.
- Avoid saying Heaney "hates" farming: He clearly respects it deeply, even though he didn't choose it as a career.
Quick Review: Key Points for the Exam
Who wrote it? Seamus Heaney.
What is the main feeling? Transition from childhood admiration to adult realization.
Key Technique: Nautical imagery (the father as a ship/sail).
The Ending: The roles reverse; the father now follows the son.
Comparison: This poem works well when compared to "Walking Away" (by Cecil Day-Lewis) because both explore the changing relationship between parents and children as time passes.