Digging

Backround: First poem from Heaneys first collection of poems Death of a Naturalist which
deals with the loss of childhood innocence and the following transitions into adulthood.
Summary: In this poem Heaney sees his father, an old man, digging the flowerbeds. He
remembers how his younger, stronger father used to dig in the potato fields when Heaney
was a child, and how his grandfather, before that, was an expert turf digger. Heaney knows
that he has no spade to follow men like them, he is a writer, not a farmer so he will dig with
his pen similarly to how in this poem he 'digs' into his past.
Point 1 Relationship with father and admiration for grandfather, how his perspective
changes as he understands their work
Positive relationship yet distance between them
- Window separates them father is almost below him + work/education
- No gun in final stanza, his work is no longer more important
- we + our shared experiences reflect happy times
- By God shows admiration, he was/is impressed by his father
Admiration and respect towards father + grandfather
- More turf in a day skilful
- Immediately hard at work with after milk paper draws parallel between lines of
work
- Technical terminology
Spade as an image emphasises hard work which is admired by Heaney
Point 2 Poem is extended metaphor of digging
Constant emphasis upon digging in each stanza determination of final line
3 present participles, each more strenuous - digging
Half rhymes suggest half rhythm, same as digging
Lengths of stanzas
Digging into the past with tenses goes back in time
Point 3 - Heaneys intentions
Sense of disgust towards farming
- Sibilance in squelch and slap
Physically cuts roots acknowledges their profession but its not for him
Doesnt want to follow in path of father/grandfather
- no spade
 - Digging with the pen is his choice
Dig in metaphorical sense
- Gun is a weapon, he can raise awareness
- Wants to be as good a writer as father was at digging

Conclusion: Important poem, sets the tone for the rest of the collection. Shows how Heaney
was able to make the decision to abandon a part of his past and become a writer