Understanding the poem 'Follower' by Seamus Heaney
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Heaney presents the admiration found in a parental relationship and how this changes over time.
Key learning points
- The speaker feels deep admiration for his father’s skill and prowess on the farm.
- The speaker sometimes felt incompetent or overwhelmed in the presence of his father.
- Despite the multifaceted nature of the relationship, the father and son were close and spent a lot of time together.
- The speaker and their father swap or reverse roles at the end of the poem.
- Heaney has seemingly taken inspiration from his own past growing up in rural Ireland.
Keywords
Prowess - exceptional skill or ability, especially in a particular field or activity
Skill - proficiency or expertise in performing a task, often acquired through practice and experience
Rural - relating to the countryside, typically characterised by agriculture, open spaces, and a small population
Plough - a farming tool used to till the soil by cutting, lifting, and turning it
Furrows - narrow grooves or trenches made in the ground, typically by a plough or cultivation
Common misconception
This poem is an autobiographical account of one of Heaney's childhood memories.
This collection, 'Death of Naturalist', is semi-autobiographical since it reflects on aspects of Heaney's childhood, growing up in a rural Irish farming community, but the poet has never confirmed that this particular memory is from his childhood.
Teacher tip
It's worth exploring the final image in the poem and explaining that it is likely more metaphorical than literal.
Equipment
You will need access to the poem 'Follower' by Seamus Heaney. This can be found in the AQA Love and Relationships Poetry Anthology.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When we talk about analysing the writer's use of language we mean...
Q2.Which of these is an example of a structural choice made by a writer?
Q3.Information relating to the social, cultural or historical background of a text or writer is known as .
Q4.If something is rural it is...
Q5.What does multifaceted mean?
Q6.If you call someone an expert you are likely to....
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
exceptional skill or ability
proficiency or expertise in performing a task
relating to the countryside
a farming tool
narrow grooves or trenches made in the ground
Q2.In 'Follower' Heaney initially presents the son as __________ his father.
Q3.By the end of 'Follower' both the father and son are seen to stumble. How does the son react to his father's "stumbling"?
Q4.Starting with the first, put these key events from 'Follower' in the order they appear in the poem.
Q5.Which word from 'Follower' might show that the speaker felt like a hindrance to his father when he was a child?
Q6.In 'Follower' Heaney’s use of words related to farming creates a vivid description of the landscape.
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Follower' by Seamus Heaney, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Follower' by Seamus Heaney, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the 'Love and Relationships' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.