Relationship with Father: Follower vs. Do Not Go
Gentle Into That Good Night
When comparing and contrasting two poems one must remember that even though there can be similarities between the two poems, they are however separate entities that express their own thoughts. The primary similarity is that both poems of Heaney and Thomas reflect the in depth relationship in which they share between their fathers whom they have held a constant respect and hierarchy for; the difference is that Heaney has changed his role as he becomes the leading figure and Thomas is trying to salvage his father’s life.
When first glancing at Seamus Heaney’s “Follower,” the title connotes one who follows in another’s footsteps; who is not original in his decisions. After assessing the poem itself, it can be deduced that the title is a direct connection to the major theme of the poem of father-son relationships. “Follower” refers to Heaney following his father as a child, being envious of him and his work. In the final stanza of the poem, there is a role reversal in which Heaney’s father becomes Heaney’s follower instead. Dylan Thomas on the other hand writes a poem in which the title, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” at first refers to the idea that one must not give in easily. After analyzing the poem however, the title connotes a much deeper aspect that involves the aspect of not giving up on life. Death seems peaceful, like the night, but do not succumb to it, even if you have or have not left a legacy in your life, still do not allow yourself to die so easily. The title also has a direct reference to the final stanza of Thomas’ poem in which Thomas then directly refers to his father by asking him not to die so easily, to “not go gentle into that good night.”
Heaney’s poem, “Follower,” consists of a series of stanzas in which he describes the strenuous life style of his farmer father and how he was a part of that. Heaney describes how his father “worked with a horse-plough,” how he was “an expert” and could map furrows exactly. Heaney explained
When first glancing at Seamus Heaney’s “Follower,” the title connotes one who follows in another’s footsteps; who is not original in his decisions. After assessing the poem itself, it can be deduced that the title is a direct connection to the major theme of the poem of father-son relationships. “Follower” refers to Heaney following his father as a child, being envious of him and his work. In the final stanza of the poem, there is a role reversal in which Heaney’s father becomes Heaney’s follower instead. Dylan Thomas on the other hand writes a poem in which the title, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” at first refers to the idea that one must not give in easily. After analyzing the poem however, the title connotes a much deeper aspect that involves the aspect of not giving up on life. Death seems peaceful, like the night, but do not succumb to it, even if you have or have not left a legacy in your life, still do not allow yourself to die so easily. The title also has a direct reference to the final stanza of Thomas’ poem in which Thomas then directly refers to his father by asking him not to die so easily, to “not go gentle into that good night.”
Heaney’s poem, “Follower,” consists of a series of stanzas in which he describes the strenuous life style of his farmer father and how he was a part of that. Heaney describes how his father “worked with a horse-plough,” how he was “an expert” and could map furrows exactly. Heaney explained