Digging

GLOBAL ISSUES:
CULTURE & IDENTITY
VALUES.

BY: KAUTHAR JUMA

 Seamus Heaney
 An Irish Poet
 Born on 13th April 1939
 He was awarded with Nobel
Prize in 1995 in Literature.
 One of his best work is the
Death of a Naturalist, his
first published volume.
 “Digging” appears in the
anthology Death of a
Naturalist .
 Digging is representation of
his personal life, and his
family history
 Thesis
In what way does Seamus Heaney explores the aspect of family and traditions?
The Narrator is shown breaking away from family tradition and becoming a poet in the poem
“digging”.
The element of family tradition is portrayed in various Stanzas.

In Stanza 5.
“By God, the Old man could handle a spade.
Just like his old man.”
➢This indicates the inheritance of skills, being passed down from old generations.

In Stanza 6.
“My grandfather cut more turf in a day .
Than any other man on Toner’s bog.”
➢This shows that the grandfather of the narrator is a hardworking man .
The phrase Tone’s bog signify the piece of land in village of Bellaghy ,Heaney’s Birthplace.
This shows that he grew up in a farm.
“Through living roots awaken in my head
But I’ve no spade to follow men like them.”
➢This implies that Heaney will not follow in his father’s and grandfather's footsteps.
Despite the fact that he is a member of the family tree.(living roots awaken in my head).
➢This shows the admiration for the dedication and effort for the physical act of digging.

In the last stanza

“Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests.”
I’ll dig with it.
➢I believe when he meant “ I ‘ll dig with it” he refers that he will follow his family tradition
in his own way, meaning that he will show determination and hard work as his family.
➢This emphasize the importance of role model in our families.
 Features
➢Assonance
The squat pen rests; snug as a gun- “e”sound
➢ Consonance
The cold smell of potato mould, the squelch and slap-”l” sound
➢Alliteration
He rooted out tall tops, buried the bright edge deep.
➢Repetition
Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests.
➢Enjambement
The cold smell of potato mould, the squelch and slap
Of soggy peat, the curt cuts of an edge
Through living roots awaken in my head
Thank you!