Digging - Critical Response.

... Digging Critical Response By Rachel Salter Using his poetry, Seamus Heaney expresses his concerns and uses vivid and skilful imagery to describe to me how he reconciles himself with his choice not to continue the family tradition of farming. His dynamic and illustrating poetry reflects on the title "Digging" as it is though he is going beneath the surface of his thoughts and conscience to uncover his true feelings. He is almost conducting a self-examination as the poem is autobiographical. Heaney immediately draws me into his poem by introducing a very personal and expressive stanza, leaving me with a feeling of sympathy for him. Heaney contemplates his worries and emotions throughout the poem. He is concerned that he will fall short of the family's expectations, by not contributing to the farm and the success of his ancestors. He feels guilty and fearful that he will disappoint and even be rejected by his

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