Seamus Heaney- Digging and Anahorish comparison

Anahorish begins with Seamus’ memory of his own childhood experiences of the town and a sense of confusion for Heaney on how to interpret his memories is suggested:

The use of enjambment places the words shiny and darkened in the same sentence yet at the same time separates them. This intimates a level of confusion in the author as when he remembers Anahorish both positive and negative thoughts are present together in a conflicting manner. The use of enjambment is combined with the form of the poem to add to this conflict; the regular structure of four stanzas contrasts prominently with the sentences, whic

Again here we can see this is a generic description of Ireland due to the absence pronouns or the definite article. This vagueness is re-enforced by image of the lamps. The faded, soft focus image demonstrates the passage of time and gives the picture a positive edge. Heaney demonstrates again his respect for the past subtly with ‘swung’, which has relaxed and somewhat happy connotations suggesting that people had less worries. In ‘Digging’ Heaney’s respect from the past is shown through his memories of his father and grandfather:

The syntax is altered here to highlight that although he has little ability with a spade he does have skill with words. Heaney goes on to conclude that although he cannot make a physical labour contribution to Ireland he is going to preserve tradition through is writing. The final line is allegorical with the first, however the element of conflict is removed- a decision is made. The last line has an assertive tone, created by monosyllabic lexis. He proves to the reader and himself that his skill is as worthy as digging through metaphor, as his digging will be literary. The form of this final stanza is also significant as it consists of the same two lines as the first stanza, however four words are removed and replaced with a different four words underneath. This removal of the oxymoronic line resolves the conflict previously created and then proceeds to relax the author’s fears that his chosen contribution to such a rich heritage is valid. He reasons in the end that his poetry is equally as legitimate a method in preserving the traditional Irish culture.

“The squat pen rests; sung as a gun.”

“Once I carried him milk in a bottle

Both poems flow into thoughts and ideas about the past in Ireland, however the transition is created differently in both poems, and thus the effects are slightly altered also. ‘Digging’ uses the window to represent the barrier of time separating him from the past:

Some topics in this essay:
Moving Island, Heaney Irelands, Seamus Heaney, past ireland, harsh consonant sounds, sense confusion, squat pen rests, past ‘anahorish’, issues heaney, harsh consonant, memories father, pen rests, ‘anahorish’ ‘digging’, intimates level, consonant sounds,