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Overview
| Study Guide | Night |
|---|---|
| Pages | 14 |
| Price | ₦1,000 |
Description
Study Guide: Digging by Seamus Heaney is a detailed analysis of Seamus Heaney’s poem, “Digging.” The poem is one of the six non-African poems recommended for the harmonized Literature-in-English syllabus for senior secondary schools (2026-2030) in West Africa. The text will be used for WASSCE, NECOSSCE, and other equivalent O-Level exams within the timeframe.
“Digging” is the first poem in Heaney’s debut collection, Death of a Naturalist (1966). It is set in rural Ireland during the mid-20th century. This was a time when traditional farming practices were still common in the region. The poem captures the sounds, smells, and scenes of working the land.
Heaney was the eldest of nine children and the first in his family to attend university. “Digging” is deeply personal and reflective of his family heritage and the path he has chosen. It is indicative of his transition from rural labour background to intellectual pursuit. While his father and grandfather were skilled farmers and turf cutters, Heaney turns to poetry as his own form of labour. This poem sets the tone for his literary career which is rooted in memory, place, and self-exploration.
This study guide by Literature Padi does a detailed analysis of the poem, along the lines of content analysis, figures of speech, mood and tone, and the themes in the poem. We hope you find the analysis of this poem a worthy read.
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