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Analysis Of Follower By Seamus Heaney

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Seamus Heaney’s poems ‘Digging’ and ‘Follower’ focus on family life, tradition and the pride Haney feels towards his family, particularly his father and grandfather. They also talk of generation, role reversal and the passing of the time. The poems describe his father and grandfather working on the farm and the admiration Heaney feels towards them. This essay will analyse the techniques Heaney used to convey his deep pride and admiration for his family.

Throughout ‘Follower’ Heaney consistently describes the strong sense of pride he feels towards his father.
‘All I ever did was follow’
Is an excellent example of this pride. Heaney uses a hyperbole (all I ever did) to show how much he looked up to his father and wanted to be him. This child-like …show more content…

It also shows that despite being a hard worker, Heaney’s father always had time for his son.

Heaney speaks frequently about his father’s skill.
‘Mapping the furrow exactly’
This is a connotation which implies that Heaney’s father worked precisely and was experienced in his job. It reflects pride as it suggests he was extremely intelligent, furthering Heaney’s hero complex towards his father.

Another example of Heaney praising his father’s skill is show in this quote;
‘The sod rolled over without breaking’
It is an example of assonance which helps build on the idea that Heaney’s father made his work seem easy. It also shows that Heaney’s father was very technically skilled, once again showing that Heaney saw his father as a hero.

Moving onto the poem ‘Digging’ which shows the admiration not only for his father but for his grandfather as well.
‘By God, the old man could handle a spade. Just like his old man’
Heaney’s use of emotive language (by God) shows just how strongly he feels about his father and grandfather. It also suggests the ease and comfort of their

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