Symbols in Digging by Seamus Heaneypoem

In the poem Digging, Seamus Heaney explores the differences between generations of men in his family through retracing the past. It is a poem of love and respect for the achievements of his father and granddad as a egg onger, but at the same time ignorevass the traditional occupation to his own way of cut into as a writer. Heaney expresses a sense of isolation and resemblance he feels toward his family by exploitation significant symbols throughout the poem.In the first stanza, Heaney introduces the readers to his pen, which he is content to obtain as he finds a sense of belonging and comfort. The pen is describe as a weapon, snug as a gun (2), this gives the event that the pen fits naturally in his hands and symbolizes a pull in of tribute from the criticisms about his choice of being a writer. His decision creates a form barrier or isolation between Heaney and his father, as implied when Heaney observes his father digging through a window.The plane of glass stands in as a physical separation between father and son, yet it also corresponds to the psychological barrier that built up in their relationship when Heaney decides to follow his fancy as a writer. In order to do so, he mustiness break away from the familys traditional means of earning a invigoration, tho like how a spade makes a curt cuts/through living roots(26-27). Even though Heaney chooses not to become a digger, he still finds a sense of resemblance between the two arctic occupations.Heaney recognizes that his skill with a pen is compatible to his forefathers skill with a spade, as he suggests his pen symbolizes a spade to which he can dig with it(31). Heaney is, in his form of digging, always searching for topics or good materials that can make his pieces unique and meaningful, just like how his grandfather continued passing play down and down for the good turf as he cut into (23-24).