Preview

Relationship with Father: Follower vs. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1242 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
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

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Compare and Contrast the ways in which Heaney and Blake write about innocence and experience in their poetry…

    • 2674 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The poem begins with a restatement of the title, “Do not go gentle into that good night,” (Webb 659-660) as a phrase and also a refrain throughout the poem. This phrase uses the adjective “gentle” (Webb 659-660) to represent giving up easy, and the phrase “good night,” (Webb 659-660) to represent death itself. This phrase is representation of him stating that those near death should not give up easily and should not die without a fight. Another refrain throughout this poem is the phrase, “Rage, rage against the dying of the light,” (Webb 659-660) and this phrase uses the phrase, “dying of the light” (Webb 659-660) to once again represent death and to portray again his attempt to convince those approaching their end to, “Rage (fight), rage (fight) against the dying of the light (death),” basically to fight death for as long as they can.…

    • 635 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    If you've ever watched the movie "Interstellar" then you've heard these words before "do not go gentle into that good night”. “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas is a poem that examines death and the inevitable demise that comes with old age. Dylan Thomas seems to be convinced that it is not ethical or befitting for an accomplished or influential person to die softly in old age. The author of the poem knows that death is unavoidable, but believes that it should be fought every inch of the way. In this masterpiece, Dylan Thomas illustrates his purpose by using metaphors for death, and by incorporating the passing away of his father into the poem.…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Comparing Poems

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Dylan Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” and Catherine Davis’ “After a Time” are two very similar poems that demand comparison, as Davis’ poem is in reply to Thomas’. From a reader’s point of view, these two poems seem to have a great deal of comparison than being dissimilar. Through an in depth analysis of these particular poems, “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” and “After a Time” have been proven to have high similarity points in the many different aspects of poetry, such as theme, thought process and structure.…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Do Not Go Gentle

    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Dylan Thomas’ poem Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night simultaneously comments on how people should die and how they should live. This poem serves as a statement that every life should be meaningful and impact others, and we should refuse to accept death and cling to this life.…

    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thomas, Dylan. “Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night.” The Poems of Dylan Thomas. New York: New Directions. 1952. Print.…

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Another way Heaney powerfully portrays a farm-worker through his writing is with his use of technical language and therefore his familiarity with the work of his father. This is demonstrated in the first stanza when Heaney describes the “shafts and the furrow”. These terms are solely in regards to farming and show how he must spend a lot of time on the farm and therefore show the farm-worker aspect of this poem. Another indication of language used by Heaney to portray a farm-worker is when he describes how to actually achieve certain things on the farm through different techniques. He does this when outlining how he wants to…

    • 613 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Universal Theme

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” is poem written by a young poet named Dylan Thomas. Portrayed in the poem is that Dylan himself talks about how his father is dying and that he is fighting to stay alive with his entire valor. In the poem he says “Rage, rage, into the dying of the light” meaning his father is fighting with everything he’s got to try to stay alive with his son. He also repeats “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” over and over again; and what he meant was “Do Not Give up on Life That Easy, Always Strive to Stay Alive.”…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Looking at both poems, there are comparisons in each part, including the subject, themes, structure, images and language. The subject in follower is the relationship between a father and a son. In ‘Follower' Seamus Heaney is speaking as the son, who talks about his father working on a farm. This has references to his own childhood as he was brought up on a hard working farm in County Derry, Northern Ireland. The mood starts off pleasant and calm in a natural and flowing way. It then ends sad and pitiful. In the beginning of the poem he describes how he was staggering behind his father when he was a young boy. But when they both grew older, their positions change and so his father is now the follower who stumbles behind Heaney, the son. ‘But today, It is my father who keeps stumbling, Behind me, and will not go away.' And so the poem ends quite dramatically which makes the reader think more to understand what has happened in the poem.…

    • 2048 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Yeats’ “The Second Coming” and Thomas’ “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” are two contrasting poems with passionate tones. Yeats’ poem describes a new time that will bring disorder to the world. He explains his ideas in a negative tone that presents a frightening mood. On the other hand, Thomas’ poem is about the struggle against death. He urgently begs his father to battle against death, creating a sad mood. In each poem, figurative language, the theme, and the mood are used to create the authors tone.…

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Comparing Death

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the second poem, “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,” Thomas displays a completely opposite viewpoint to describe death. He describes death as something that should be feared and fought against. He prays his father to hold on to the bitter end and do not give into his death. That indeed death is something that we need to be afraid of. It is a rallying cry against death, that to give up is the coward’s way. The idea of impending death gives us new insight into life, so fight through this death so that you can live your life with renewed strength. Thomas illustrated this point in the following line, “Grave men, near death, who…

    • 787 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Storm on the Island

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The poem is structured in nineteen lines and one stanza in blank verse, this gives the effect of the size of the storm. In using one stanza the reader understands the nature of the storm as it is represented by the one stanza. Through the use of blank verse/iambic pentameter, Heaney gives the poem a conversational tone.…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his poem entitled “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”, Dylan Thomas uses the elements of TP-CASTT to illustrate how man should fight death to the very end. The title tells the reader to “not go gentle”, meaning to not meekly and peacefully make the transition from life to death; instead to rage against it, and struggle with what vitality they have left. The poem begins with the speaker stating his argument – to fight against death, even unto old age. Subsequently, he describes the valiant and praiseworthy behavior of various exemplary men, one for each stanza: “wise men” who know death is inevitable; “good men” who are gratified by the honorable deeds they have done; “wild men” who were reckless and learned of death too late; and “grave men” who - despite weakness and failing sight – realize they still have power over death. Through the introduction of each example, the speaker - addressing his father - relates back to the theme: that no matter how one has lived their life, or how they feel about death, they should still die fighting. Every example of man Thomas uses tells of how - by fighting - these men are noble and admirable in dying. Also through his use of shifts in the poem, Thomas creates the impression that all men should struggle against their death. A shift is introduced (at the start of stanzas 2-5, accompanying) with each example of man fighting for life; a final shift where it is revealed who the speaker is talking to – his father. In the poet’s placing of this revelation, the reader receives the sense that his father is much like the people stated in stanzas 2-5, and that like those men, he too should “rage against the dying of the light” (Thomas) Through the use of literary devices, Thomas illustrates how men should battle their death for the sake of a noble end.…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay Comparing Two Poems

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Charlotte Dymond and John Lomas, are two poems which share several techniques. They also, however are different in many ways. This essay will explore their similarities and their differences and explain reasons why the two ballads are different or similar.…

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Growing up in a lively home, Dylan Thomas and his father had a really close relationship. Thomas “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” addresses about his dying father, lamenting his father's loss of health, strength, and talks about men facing death. Thomas shows metaphors throughout the poem addressing that death is something everyone should fight against and to be strong. His poem directs towards his father death and has a very serious theme of death, which he directs mostly as rage. “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” tells the experience of old age and dealing with death.…

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays