題目 1 · essay
25 分In what ways does Heaney powerfully convey the changing relationship between the father and the son in 'Follower'? Support your ideas with detailed, close-reference analysis of the language and imagery.
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解題
A successful essay will argue that Heaney explores the shifting dynamics of admiration, childhood inadequacy, and the inevitable role reversal of aging. Paragraph 1: Analyze the depiction of the father's expertise. Phrases like 'his shoulders globed like a full sail strung' use nautical imagery to present him as an epic, powerful figure steering the land. His movement is described with technical precision ('An expert...', 'The sod rolled over without breaking'), establishing the son's immense reverence. Paragraph 2: Analyze the contrast with the young speaker. While the father is steady, the son 'stumbled in his hob-nailed wake' and 'fell / Sometimes'. The word 'wake' continues the nautical metaphor, showing the father's massive displacement compared to the son's smallness. The son's desire to be like his father ('To close one eye, stiffen my arm') contrasts with the reality of his childhood clumsiness ('All I ever did was follow / In his broad shadow'). Paragraph 3: Analyze the poignant resolution in the final stanza. The temporal shift ('But today...') introduces the reality of the present. The roles are reversed: 'It is my father who keeps stumbling / Behind me'. The word 'stumbling', previously used for the child, is now applied to the aging father. The phrase 'and will not go away' carries a complex tone—suggesting frustration, duty, and deep love, highlighting the inescapable bond between parent and child.
評分準則
Band 1 (1-4 marks): Limited response with simple narrative recall and minimal focus on the question. Band 2 (5-8 marks): Basic understanding of the poem's narrative, relying on paraphrase with very few quotes. Band 3 (9-12 marks): Broad understanding with some relevant references to the relationship but limited analysis of poetic devices. Band 4 (13-16 marks): Competent analysis showing clear understanding of the father-son dynamic and some exploration of language and imagery (e.g., 'globed', 'stumbled'). Band 5 (17-20 marks): Highly structured, analytical response focusing closely on how Heaney uses specific imagery (nautical metaphors, contrast) to convey the relationship's evolution. Band 6 (21-25 marks): Exceptional response demonstrating a highly sensitive, original, and sustained critical analysis of the poem's language, form, and tone, particularly focusing on the poignant final stanza and role reversal.