How is Seamus Heaneys Irish Rural Heritage Reflected In...

How is Seamus Heaneys Irish Rural Heritage Reflected In his Poetry. Seamus Heaney was born and grew up in the Irish countryside on his fathers farm. His father was still using the traditional farming methods, which had been handed down for generations, even though technology had developed greatly in the early twentieth century. Heaney learns a lot from his father about farming and how generations of his family have done it. Heaney takes a great interest in it and he admires his fathers skill in working the horses. These memories give Heaney a great deal to write about. The poems that I am going to study are Digging, Follower, At a Potato Digging and Death of a Naturalist. Heaneys memories and thoughts from childhood†¦show more content†¦By God, the old man could handle a spade. This shows how Heaney looked up to his father. Heaney also mentions how his grandfather was a great digger too. My grandfather cut more turf in a day. This poem is showing how digging has been done for generations in Heaneys family. But Heaney couldnt dig like them. But Ive no spade to follow men like them. He feels like he is a disappointment to his father and family, and he feels disappointment in himself too. Heaney still does dig though, but in a different way. He digs with words. Follower is similar to Digging in a lot of ways because Heaney is again using childhood memories to show the admiration for his father. Heaney describes, with some admiration, his fathers skill in working the horse-drawn plough. The sod rolled over without breaking. This shows how he remembers his fathers expertise in ploughing. This poem is written in the same way as Digging because both show how Heaneys heritage plays a key focus in his poetry. Follower also shows the strength of Heaneys father. With a single pluck. This shows how his father doesnt struggle, which is the mark of an expert. He also describes his fathers power and strength. Broad shadow. The broadness of his shoulders is showing his power and strength. Follower unlike Digging tells the reader how Heaney followed his father around the