Follower

Question 1

When was the poet alive?

Answer 1

1939-2013

Question 2

When was the poem published?

Answer 2

1962

Question 3

What is the poem about?

Answer 3

The narrator describes his father and how he used to be on his farm. He talks about him ploughing and the son’s admiration for his father. He used to follow his father around the farm, but he talks about how he used to stumble and fall, not feeling good enough. He wanted to become like his father but felt like a nuisance. When the narrator grows older, the roles switch, and its the father who stumbles behind his son.

Question 4

Describe the form of the poem.

Answer 4

The poem is made up of six stanzas, each with four lines. The consistent structure and steady rhythm mimic the action of ploughing.

Question 5

Describe the structure of the poem.

Answer 5

The first three stanzas focus on the father. The next two stanzas follow the narrator’s struggles with his identity, he admired and wanted to be like his father, but failed. There is a role reversal (volta) in the last stanza, it is now the father that stumbles behind the narrator.

Question 6

Describe how nautical imagery is used in the poem.

Answer 6

The narrator uses language about the sea and sailing, describing his father as the sails, captain and the boat itself in order to describe ploughing. This emphasises the father’s strength and skill as well as the admiration the narrator felt for him as a child.

Question 7

How is reflective language used in the poem?

Answer 7

The narrator sees himself as a nuisance and possibly a failure, but at the end of the poem, he understands that the father he admired so much as a child is now dependant on him instead.

Question 8

What is the effect of “His shoulders globed like a full sail strung.” (Line 2)?

Answer 8

The use of nautical imagery makes the father seem very strong and powerful in the son’s eyes. The use of “globed” could have a double meaning; one being the literal meaning that his shoulders are broad and muscly, but could also imply that the father is his son’s whole world.

Question 9

What is suggested by “strained” (Line 4)?

Answer 9

This shows the father’s power and authority when he is working with the horses.

Question 10

What is the effect of “clicking” (Line 4)?

Answer 10

The onomatopoeia draws the reader’s attention to his skill, he is able to control the powerful horses just by clicking his tongue.

Question 11

What is the significance of “An expert.” (Line 5)?

Answer 11

Describing the father as an expert shows that he is as technically skilled as he is strong. The statement being a short sentence at the beginning of the stanza makes it seem confident and incontestable.

Question 12

What is the impact of “rolled” (Line 7) and “breaking” (Line 7)?

Answer 12

It continues the nautical imagery of the first stanza. It also shows the father’s skill, as he is capable of not breaking the sods when he ploughs.

Question 13

What is the significance of “pluck // Of” (Lines 8 and 9)?

Answer 13

The use of enjambement between the second and third stanzas reflect the father’s work being very smooth and skillful.

Question 14

What is the impact of “exactly.” (Line 12) and “stumbled” (Line 13)?

Answer 14

The stanza change shows the contrast between the father’s skill and the son’s clumsiness, emphasizing that the son feels he will never be like his father.

Question 15

What is the significance of “he rode me on his back” (Line 15)?

Answer 15

This emphasizes that his father was the leader, and the narrator was the follower. It implies that the narrator couldn’t work alone and his father was the superior figure and he was tailing his work.

Question 16

What is the effect of “Dipping and rising” (Line 16)?

Answer 16

This constant rhythm represents the father’s steadiness and precision in his work, and that he was always in control. This is also reflected in their relationship; the father is riding the narrator on his back, causing all of the movements, which emphasizes his superiority in their relationship.

Question 17

What is the effect of “plough,” (Line 17) and “follow” (Line 19)?

Answer 17

The reflective language in this section shows the narrator’s longing to be like his father. Quoting the actions that his father does shows that the narrator knows what he wants to do and has thought about it extensively.

Question 18

What is the significance of “All I ever did” (Line 19)?

Answer 18

This reflective language shows that the narrator is fed up of how his relationship is. The exaggerated language “All I ever did” shows he desperately wants something to change, and introduces a sense of anger and irritation.

Question 19

What is shown by “broad shadow” (Line 20)?

Answer 19

It shows that the narrator feels inferior and maybe even intimidated by his father. The word “shadow” reinforces that he doesn’t feel good enough to his father and his father is dominating the situation.

Question 20

What is the effect of “I was a nuisance, tripping, falling,” (Line 21)?

Answer 20

The past tense “was” shows that he feels he has changed, but he doesn’t deny what he used to be like. The verbs “tripping” and “falling” highlights his clumsiness and suggests he was annoying to work with.

Question 21

What is the significance of “. But today” (Line 22)?

Answer 21

The full stop symbolises the volta in the poem, as the focus shifts from the son talking about himself and his flaws, to talking about his father’s flaws. It also shifts to present day, which could demonstrate a refreshed opinion.

Question 22

What is the effect of “stumbling” (Line 23)?

Answer 22

The use of the same word to describe the narrator’s father instead of himself shows the change in superiority, and that the roles have reversed.