A Comparison of Death of a Naturalist and Digging by Seamus Heaney

A Comparison of Death of a Naturalist and Digging by Seamus Heaney

The poems 'Death of a Naturalist' and 'Digging' have many

similarities, and contrasts. Some of the reoccurring themes in the two

poems include memories of childhood and changes in the life of the

writer. There are contrasts too, in 'Death of a Naturalist'; the

writer is concentrating on himself and his own experiences in life,

rather than the experiences of others. In 'Digging', the opposite is

true, as the writer concentrates mainly on the events in other

people's lives, namely his father and grandfather. The endings of both

the poems have a different feel to them. 'Digging' finishes in a much

more positive tone than 'Death of a Naturalist', which ends on a lower

note, of the writer realising his own cynicism. In spite of this, both

poems have similar tones in their openings, creating opposing feelings

when compared with their final stanzas.

The poet, Seamus Heaney wrote these poems. He was born on April 13th

1939 and was the eldest of nine children. His parents, Margaret and

Patrick Heaney brought Seamus and his siblings up on a farm thirty

miles from Belfast in County Derry.

Later in his life, he went to St Josephs College in Belfast and

studied English and where he also earned a Teaching Certificate. Later

in his life he became a lecturer at this college. There he joined a

poetry workshop along with such writers as Derek Machon and Michael

Longly. In 1965 Seamus published a total of eleven poems and married

Marie Deulin. He fathered two sons named Michael and Christopher.

'Death of Naturalist' and 'Digging' both give the impression of

looking back in time...

... middle of paper ...

...is poem as it is very much centred on growing up and the changes

that humans go through in a lifetime, and how they view things

differently as they mature. The use of language is evocative,

colourful and full of the love of life as well as the subsequent

disappointment as viewed by the poet, both as a boy and in his later

years.

'Digging' in my opinion is an excellent poem, it has random stanza

length which gives the idea of freedom. There is a rhythm in its style

and it evokes a certain feeling of nostalgia that I find summons up

images I can relate to.

'By God, the old man could handle a spade,

Just like his old man',

This line not only refers to the continuity of the family but also the

pride and love felt between them.

Both these poems use effective language and hold potent meaning

throughout.