Follower

Admiration and Aspiration — At the beginning of the poem, the speaker expresses deep admiration for his father. What specific details does Heaney provide to illustrate the father's skill and expertise? How do these details influence the speaker's sense of identity as a child?

Role Reversal — By the final stanza, it seems that the roles of father and son have flipped. How does Heaney indicate this change, and what emotional impact does it create? Did the ending catch you off guard? Why or why not?

The Word "Follower" — The title has several interpretations throughout the poem. In what various ways can the term "follower" be understood, and how do those meanings change from the start to the conclusion of the poem?

Imagery and Craft — Heaney employs rich agricultural imagery (the plough, the furrow, the horses) to anchor the poem in a particular time and setting. How does this imagery serve a symbolic or emotional purpose as well?

Generational Relationships — What insights does the poem offer about the dynamics of parent–child relationships over the years? In the final lines, do you think the speaker experiences guilt, love, resentment, or perhaps a mix of these emotions?

Growing Up and Letting Go — How does "Follower" examine the tension between the desire to imitate a parent and the unavoidable need to carve out one’s own path? Can you connect this theme to your own experiences or to other texts you have studied?

Role Reversal: The poem opens with the speaker as a child trailing his father but concludes with the father trailing the speaker. How does Heaney utilize this reversal to examine the evolving dynamics between parent and child over time? What feelings does this change stir in you?

Admiration and Idealization: In the initial stanzas, the speaker portrays his father with deep admiration, employing precise, technical farming terminology. What does this choice of language indicate about the young speaker's perception of his father? How does it shape the poem's overall tone?

The Burden of the Past: The last line — "will not go away" — carries an echoing sense. In what ways can a parent become a "burden" as both they and their child grow older? Is Heaney expressing criticism, affection, or something more nuanced?

Clumsiness and Competence: The speaker depicts himself as a stumbling, awkward child who "fell sometimes." How does Heaney use the contrast between the father's expertise and the child's clumsiness to further the poem's main themes?

Ambition and Identity: The speaker mentions he "wanted to grow up and plough." To what degree is this poem about the longing to adopt a parent's identity, and what insights does it provide about how we develop our own sense of self?

Universal Experience: Although it is grounded in a specific rural Irish context, "Follower" resonates with universal themes of childhood, aging, and generational relationships. How does Heaney navigate the balance between the specific and the universal in this poem?