1. Follower
Seamus Heaney

2. Read the Poem 

3. Subject What is the poem about?
Heaney discusses his relationship with his father.
He shows us his father’s skill as a farmer as well as his admiring relationship with him.
Heaney then discusses how this relationship changes as his father ages.

4. The Title What is the significance of the title of the poem?
The title suggests that Heaney follows his father both literally and metaphorically.
The poem tells us about Heaney’s memory of his father working the farm as he grew up and the way their relationship changed.
Like many of Heaney’s other poems, the title reflects the events described in the poem, but also hints at the ideological significance of the poem.

5. Structure How many stanzas are there in the poem?
Describe the structure of each stanza.
Quatrain (a stanza of four lines)
ABAB rhyme scheme
Briefly describe what is discussed in each stanza.

6. Structure Overview
Stanzas 1-3: Discuss the persona’s childhood memory of his father working the farm. He describes him specifically working the horse plough and the expert way in which he does this.
Stanza 4: Heaney introduces himself- following his father. He appears desperate to keep up and delighted to be included.
Stanza 5: Heaney discusses wanting to grow up and imagining himself mimicking his father’s movements.
Stanza 6: Heaney understands he was a nuisance to his father as a child, but reminds the reader that now, his father follows him.

7. The Persona Describe the persona.
How does the persona relate to Heaney?
How do you think the persona felt about his father when he was young?
How does he feel about his father now he has grown up?

8. Complete the language analysis tasksheet