Both of these poems are about childhood memories and childhood traditions.
Heaney states in both poems that his whole family were farmers, and he was expected to be a farmer too. The expectancy was for him to carry on looking after the family farm, to keep the tradition running.
He remembers being a child and admiring and looking up to his father, and his grandfather before that. They were both hardcore farmers, and during his childhood he wanted to be like his father, following him around. He remembers one time when he brought his grandfather some milk, and he barely took a break to drink it, he just kept on working. This shows his determination and how hard working he was. He remembers how strong his father was, and how he was in perfect harmony with his working animals.
The poems do not reveal much about his relationship with his father as an adult. It is likely that he thinks well of him, and that he is probably dead now.
But as an adult, he realizes that he was not cut out for farming, and writing poems was what he is content doing, as it is something he is good at and enjoys. However, he feels no regret about this.
Although the poems are similar, there are also differences between them. Digging describes more about the family tradition of farming and the expectancy for him to carry it on, while Follower describes how he used to admire his father, and stumble behind him, and nowadays the positions have been reversed.
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Heaney 'Follower'
'His shoulders globed like a full string strung.' - This can be interpreted to mean his father was strong, hardworking, and Seamus admired him. It also shows that he protects his son.
'The horses strained at his clicking tongue' - This shows his father had complete control over his horses, and the rest of his work. He is very precise and efficient, and passionate about what he does.
'With a single pluck/Of reins, the sweating team turned around' This shows his father worked together with his agricultural animals, and was not cruel to them, but they got the job done. Again it shows his control over them.
'Dipping and rising to his plod' This is a standard routine, he has been farming all of his working life, he is well mint at it.
'I stumbled in his hob-nailed wake' This shows that Seamus does not help his father, he wants to be like him, but cannot keep up with him, as his father will not slow down for him.
'I was a nuisance, tripping, falling,/Yapping always' This means that Seamus would have been annoying to his father, but he did not tell him to go away or lose his temper. Seamus respects his father for this, as he now realizes how hard this would be.
In this poem, the young Heaney is portrayed, in my opinion, to be like an animal, not understanding his father does not really want him to be there, but thinking he is helping.
At the end of the poem, Heaney describes how the positions of him and his father have been reversed, as his father is dead. His father is not physically following him, but Heaney is concerned about the guilt he carries because he has not carried on his heritage of farming, and he cannot live up to his father.
'The horses strained at his clicking tongue' - This shows his father had complete control over his horses, and the rest of his work. He is very precise and efficient, and passionate about what he does.
'With a single pluck/Of reins, the sweating team turned around' This shows his father worked together with his agricultural animals, and was not cruel to them, but they got the job done. Again it shows his control over them.
'Dipping and rising to his plod' This is a standard routine, he has been farming all of his working life, he is well mint at it.
'I stumbled in his hob-nailed wake' This shows that Seamus does not help his father, he wants to be like him, but cannot keep up with him, as his father will not slow down for him.
'I was a nuisance, tripping, falling,/Yapping always' This means that Seamus would have been annoying to his father, but he did not tell him to go away or lose his temper. Seamus respects his father for this, as he now realizes how hard this would be.
In this poem, the young Heaney is portrayed, in my opinion, to be like an animal, not understanding his father does not really want him to be there, but thinking he is helping.
At the end of the poem, Heaney describes how the positions of him and his father have been reversed, as his father is dead. His father is not physically following him, but Heaney is concerned about the guilt he carries because he has not carried on his heritage of farming, and he cannot live up to his father.
Friday 19 November 2010
Heaney 'Digging', brief analysis.
Reading for Meaning
At the start of the poem, Seamus is looking out of his window, watching his father digging flowerbeds, admiring him.
This reminds him of the past, his father digging and his grandfather doing the same, as digging is a part of his family and his heritage.
He also associates his grandfather being very skilled at digging.
This reminds him of his childhood, seeing his grandfather dig and after that seeing his father dig. He remembers once he brought his grandfather a bottle of milk, he drunk it down then continued his work instantly. Heaney admires his passion and determination.
Heaney identifies that his father and grandfathers skill was digging. He decides that his skill is writing, his pen is a powerful weapon, and his writing is an equivalent of their digging.
First Impressions
The poem is about admiration for his father and grandfather, remembering his childhood, and about skills, his being writing whilst his father and grandfathers was digging, and farming.
The words that stuck out to me were the words used to describe digging, gravelly, straining rump, along with the metaphor to a gun, and the descriptions of the passion his father and grandfather had about digging.
Heaney is different to his father because he made his living from farming, and he makes his living from writing. They both have important skills.
At the start of the poem, Seamus is looking out of his window, watching his father digging flowerbeds, admiring him.
This reminds him of the past, his father digging and his grandfather doing the same, as digging is a part of his family and his heritage.
He also associates his grandfather being very skilled at digging.
This reminds him of his childhood, seeing his grandfather dig and after that seeing his father dig. He remembers once he brought his grandfather a bottle of milk, he drunk it down then continued his work instantly. Heaney admires his passion and determination.
Heaney identifies that his father and grandfathers skill was digging. He decides that his skill is writing, his pen is a powerful weapon, and his writing is an equivalent of their digging.
First Impressions
The poem is about admiration for his father and grandfather, remembering his childhood, and about skills, his being writing whilst his father and grandfathers was digging, and farming.
The words that stuck out to me were the words used to describe digging, gravelly, straining rump, along with the metaphor to a gun, and the descriptions of the passion his father and grandfather had about digging.
Heaney is different to his father because he made his living from farming, and he makes his living from writing. They both have important skills.
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Gillian Clarke!
>Born in Cardiff, Wales.
> Poet, playwright, editor, translator
> President of Ty Newydd, the writers´ centre in North Wales which she co-founded in 1990.
> Freelance tutor of creative writing, primary schools to adults.
>Her poetry is studied by GCSE and A Level students throughout Britain.
>She has a daughter and two sons, and now lives with her architect husband on a smallholding in Ceredigion, where they raise a small flock of sheep, and care for the land according to organic and conservation practice.
http://www.gillianclarke.co.uk/home.htm
> Poet, playwright, editor, translator
> President of Ty Newydd, the writers´ centre in North Wales which she co-founded in 1990.
> Freelance tutor of creative writing, primary schools to adults.
>Her poetry is studied by GCSE and A Level students throughout Britain.
>She has a daughter and two sons, and now lives with her architect husband on a smallholding in Ceredigion, where they raise a small flock of sheep, and care for the land according to organic and conservation practice.
http://www.gillianclarke.co.uk/home.htm
Seamus Heaney!
>Born 13th April 1939
>Irish poet, lives in Dublin
>He won the 1995 Nobel prize in literature
>He's written so many poems you wouldn't beleive your eyes
>Refused to be involved with 'The Troubles' in Ireland
>He was born the oldest of 9 children
>He grew up in a small farmhouse
>Christopher, Seamus's brother, died in a road accident at the age of 4.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seamus_Heaney
>Irish poet, lives in Dublin
>He won the 1995 Nobel prize in literature
>He's written so many poems you wouldn't beleive your eyes
>Refused to be involved with 'The Troubles' in Ireland
>He was born the oldest of 9 children
>He grew up in a small farmhouse
>Christopher, Seamus's brother, died in a road accident at the age of 4.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seamus_Heaney
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