The Context of "Digging"
About this Poem:
This poem is about Heaney's memories of the past and his justification of being a poet. His father was a potato farmer and his grandfather was a turf cutter. He wants to honor his history, but depart from it at the same time. Through this poem, he proposes that he, like his father and grandfather before him, can "dig" using his pen as a poet.
To learn more, read the essay on this poem.
This poem is about Heaney's memories of the past and his justification of being a poet. His father was a potato farmer and his grandfather was a turf cutter. He wants to honor his history, but depart from it at the same time. Through this poem, he proposes that he, like his father and grandfather before him, can "dig" using his pen as a poet.
To learn more, read the essay on this poem.
Potato Drills
Potato drills (line 10) - parallel ridges in the earth where potatoes are grown.
The Parts of a Spade
Lug (line 8) – the flattened top edge of the spade blade, against which the digger pushes with his foot
Shaft (line 10) – the pole between the handle and the blade
Shaft (line 10) – the pole between the handle and the blade
Turf
Turf (line 17) – a section of peat, cut from the ground for fuel
Drying peat (Right)
Peat fields (Below)
Drying peat (Right)
Peat fields (Below)