Contemporary Poetry: Seamus Heaney’s “Digging”

Question 1

Which phrases contain an example of assonance? Check all that apply.a cup of coffeethe stars in the darkgloves and a globelike the lightride along the riverthumb through the numbers

Question 2

Read the excerpt from "Digging"Till his straining rump among the flowerbedsBends low, comes up twenty years awayStooping in rhythm through potato drillsWhere he was digging.Read the haiku by Bashō. On the way to the outhouse—the white of the moonflower by torchlight.How does the structure of these poems differ?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

“Digging” jumps from the present time to the past, while Bashō's haiku captures a single moment in time.

Question 3

Read the excerpt from "Digging."Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.Under my window, a clean rasping soundWhen the spade sinks into gravelly ground:My father, digging. I look downTill his straining rump among the flowerbedsBends low, comes up twenty years awayStooping in rhythm through potato drillsWhere he was digging.Read the haiku by Bashō. A crowhas settled on a bare branch— autumn evening.How does the structure of these poems differ?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

“Digging” has multiple stanzas of varying length, while Bashō's haiku has only one stanza of three lines.

Question 4

Read the excerpt from "Digging."The coarse boot nestled on the lug, the shaft Against the inside knee was levered firmly.He rooted out tall tops, buried the bright edge deepTo scatter new potatoes that we picked,Loving their cool hardness in our hands.Read the haiku by Bashō. Early fall—the sea and the rice fields all one green.Which sentence best explains the similarities between the excerpt from "Digging” and the haiku?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Both are concerned with the topic of farming.

Question 5

Read the excerpt from "Digging."Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The positive connotation of the word emphasizes how comfortable the speaker is holding his pen.

Question 6

Which of these words has a negative connotation?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

jealousy

Question 7

Read the excerpt from "Digging"The cold smell of potato mould, the squelch and slapOf soggy peat, the curt cuts of an edgeThrough living roots awaken in my head.But I’ve no spade to follow men like them.Between my finger and my thumbThe squat pen rests.I’ll dig with it.Read the haiku by Bashō. When the winter chrysanthemums go,there’s nothing to write about but radishes.What common concern do these poems share?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Both poems find a link between farming and the act of writing.

Question 8

Read the excerpt from "Digging."Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests...

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The assonance creates a pleasing and interesting sound.

Question 9

Which lines from the poem "Digging” use assonance? Check all that apply.The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.When the spade sinks into gravelly ground:Bends low, comes up twenty years awayBy God, the old man could handle a spade.Nicking and slicing neatly, heaving sods

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.; Bends low, comes up twenty years away; By God, the old man could handle a spade.; Nicking and slicing neatly, heaving sods

Question 10

Read the excerpt from "Digging."The cold smell of potato mould, the squelch and slapOf soggy peat, the curt cuts of an edgeThrough living roots awaken in my head.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The alliteration creates pleasing and interesting sounds.

Contemporary Poetry: Seamus Heaney’s “Digging” Answers

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