Digging

Backround: First poem from Heaney’s 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 - Heaney’s intentions
Sense of disgust towards farming
- Sibilance in “squelch” and “slap”
Physically cuts roots – acknowledges their profession but it’s not for him
Doesn’t 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