Trace the Personal Elements in Seamus Heany’s Poems.

Answer

Trace the personal elements you find in Seamus Heaney’s poems. [2019]

Seamus Heaney’s (1939-2013) poems are deeply personal. He writes about his own life, his family, his childhood, and the rural world of Ireland where he grew up. His poems often connect his personal memories with universal human feelings, such as love, respect, and loss. Among his poems, “Digging” and “Follower” show many personal elements from his life.

Family and Childhood Memories: In “Digging” (1966), Heaney remembers his father and grandfather working on the farm. The sound of the spade reminds him of his childhood. It was a time when his father used to dig potatoes and his grandfather used to cut turf. He sees both men as hardworking, strong, and skilled. But Heaney knows his life is different. He says he has a “squat pen” between his thumb and finger, and he will dig with it.

“The squat pen…

I’ll dig with it.”

It means he will continue the tradition of his forefathers’ hard work, but through writing instead of farming. So, this poem becomes deeply personal.

Admiration and Love for His Father: In “Follower” (1966), Heaney again writes about his father. He describes how his father worked skillfully with horses while plowing. The poet, as a boy, followed him around the farm, stumbling and falling. He writes:

“I was a nuisance, tripping, falling.”

This memory shows the strong bond between father and son. The poem ends sadly, when the father becomes old and weak. It shows how time changes people but not their love.

In both “Digging” and “Follower,” Seamus Heaney expresses his personal feelings with honesty and emotion. Through his family memories, he celebrates love, respect, and the connection between generations. His poems are personal but also speak to everyone’s heart.