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Original:

In the poem “Digging” by Seamus Heaney, the author uses characterization to exemplify the struggle that the son faces between his family and his passion.  Heaney shows the character’s pride of not following the family business and traditions, shows his hardworking family, and shows having guilt knowing he needs to follow his dream. Heaney represents the battle of guilt of not wanting to follow the footsteps of the family business to become a writer.

Revised Version:

In the poem “Digging” by Seamus Heaney, the author characterizes the speaker in a struggle between his obligations to his family and his passion for writing. Heaney characterizes the speakers' pride by not following the family business and their family traditions. Standing up to his family also shows hard work and dedication to pursue his dreams.  Heaney reveals to us that everyone experiences the pressure of not seeking the same interests as your family. Heaney represents the battle of guilt of not wanting to follow the footsteps of the family business but to become a writer.

In my original paragraph it was really wordy which I changed. I just ended up changing a lot of the sentences. I broke down the run off sentence as well. I also added a sentence towards the end to explain the connection of real life experiences that relate to the poem Digging. It doesn't hurt to edit again.

Ophelia's Portrayal in Hamlet Act 1

Here are two youtube videos of this scene performed in two difference ways and actors. I am going to talk about each and how Ophelia was portrayed in each scene and if I agree with the actresses approach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgQiHPDvpx0&feature=player_embedde

In this youtube video I think Ophelia is portrayed as Shakespeare portrays her. Ophelia was portrayed as innocent but smart. When I was watching this video, what was going through my mind  was this is what i imagined the scene would be acted out. The actress acted how I thought she was going to be portrayed. She wanted to act like she will listen to her father and his advice but secretly not agree or listen. I agree with the actresses approach because that I how I would act around my father truthfully.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JyxfJo-iiA&feature=player_embedded%C2%A0

In this Youtube video I don't think this is the way to portray the scene. Even though it was enjoyable to watch, it was not how i pictured the scene. I envisioned Ophelia and her brother talking in a rivate setting not in the kitchen or where they work. I was also confused on who the guy on the balcony from above was and why was he interested on what they were saying? Was it Hamlet? Ophelia is portrayed really innocent and sweet in this video, and doesn't really get a one on one talk with her father, but she probably is thinking about how she will get out of it and being seen as the sweet little Ophelia who follows the rules. I also agree with how she acts, but not what I imagined how it was going to be after I read the scene, unlike the first one.

Betrayal

Hamlet is a play written by  William Shakespeare that include of three main characters named Claudius, Hamlet, and Gertrude. In the beginning of the play there are three guards who say they saw a ghost while guarding the castle late at night that looks like the former King of Danish, Hamlets' real father.

In the beginning of Act 1 Scene 2 Claudius, Hamlets' uncle, is talking to the court about the grief his family is having "To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom/ With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,) (1.2 3,12)of losing his brother but to see it as a good thing because marrying Gertrude, his former sister-in-law, but Hamlet wasn't very happy about the marriage. The questions that are going through his mind is why would they betray my father like this? My mom and dad loved each other so much? "But two months dead")?(1.2 142). His mom probably didn't ask for his approval or his feeling about the whole situation. I mean you just lost your father and two months later your mom remarries to his brother? I would be betrayed or have hatred towards them when he said "together with all forms, moods, [shapes] of grief/ That can {denote} me truly.) (1.2 85-86) Hamlet is saying that he is having some sort of signs of grief that indicates his real feelings. Hamlet says "She married . O, most wicked speed, to post/ With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!/ But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.)" (1.2 1621-164) Which means that Hamlet calls the marriage a violation of laws against intercourse between close kin.

I think Hamlets' thoughts about his mom and uncle tells us about him is that he is a prince who follows the rules and laws and doesn't break them, but with so much anger he has, that might change.

Reviewed & Revised

                                                                                                                        Mowrey 1       [K1] 

Adrianna Mowrey

Mrs. Hawkins

October 3, 2013

B BLOCK

Characterization in “Digging” by Seamus Heaney

In the poem “Digging” by Seamus Heaney, the author uses characterization to exemplify the struggle that the son faces between his family and his passion.  [K2] Heaney shows the character’s pride of not following the family business and traditions, shows his hardworking family, and shows having guilt knowing he needs to follow his dream.[K3]  Heaney represents the battle of guilt of not wanting to follow the footsteps of the family business to become a writer.

Throughout the poem Heaney characterizes the son’s pride to not follow the family business as a potato farmer he sometimes desires. Seamus starts the poem off saying “Between my fingers and my thumb/ The squat pen rest; as snug as a gun” (Heaney 1-2) which characterizes the sons’ pride. The “squat pen rest; as snug as a gun” shows the sons’ pride because when Heaney relates the pen as a gun it is represented as a weapon that will help escape the family tradition and pursue his passion.to escape and be free of the family business that his dad wants him to pursue and instead wants to become a writer which he can freely write. [K4]  Heaney also characterizes the son’s small desire for farming when he says, “Loving their cool

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hardness in our hands”(Heaney 14) which utilizes the only thing he will miss. The “cool hardness” of potatoes is the only part the son enjoyed doing with his dad and grandfather that he did for the family business. Seamus shows that the son respects his family’s hard work that they do for a job.portrays the families hard working labor that they do for a job, which the son respects.[K5] 

Heaney also characterizes a hardworking and devoted grandfather, father, and son who are potato farmers for a living, which is a tough line of work. When Heaney states, “he rooted out tall tops, buried the bright edge deep /To scatter new potatoes that we picked”(Heaney 12-13), which characterizes the family as hard working individuals. They are hardworking and determined because they have to “root out all tops” and “scatter new potatoes” which is their routine they have everyday. Heaney characterizes not only his father as hardworking but also characterizes his own father as a hard worker by saying “ By God, the old man could handle a spade, /Just like his old man.”(Heaney15-16) Which exemplifies not only “the old man could handle a spade” but “his old man” can do the same which means the hard work has been taught through generations and has been passed down. Which, the son was taught, by working and watching his father and grandfather “digging” everyday which made it harder for him to tell his family he wanted to become a writer a do something that he loved.

Throughout the poem Heaney characterizes a son who doesn’t have the desire to be a potato farmer anymore, but has tremendous passion to be a writer. The son doesn’t have the desire for “loving their cool hardness in [his] hands”

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anymore. The feeling of the “cool hardness” of the potatoes shouldn’t be the only thing that keeps him being a farmer because this can’t be the one thing he desires

about the job, which can’t push him through an entire lifetime. Towards the end of the poem when Heaney says, “Though living roots awaken in my head. /But I have no spade to follow men like them.”(Heaney 27-28) Heaney characterizes a son knowing there is so much legacy and generations before him hence the “living roots awaken in my head” and not wanting to tell his family but knowing he  “[has] no spade to follow men like them”. Heaney portrays that the son doesn’t have any strength nor interest to follow his grandfather and father footsteps and will go in his own path to be a writer. Which comes to the conclusion of the poem Heaney says “the squat pen rest. /I’ll dig with it”(Heaney29-30) Which shows that he finally had the guts to tell his family that he won’t be a farmer anymore and will be writer. The son doesn’t need the gun to escape anymore because he told his family. When Heaney says, “I’ll dig with it.” This shows that he will have the pride to live with the possible guilt of leaving the family business to become a writer and now be free to write.

Seamus Heaney portrays passion and dedication for the characters’ interests in this poem. Heaney uses characterization throughout his poem “Digging” to utilize the son’s pride, the entire families hard work, and the possible guilt the son has for not being a potato farmer and wanting to be a writer. Overall message for the poem that Heaney shares is to follow your passion no matter the consequences. [K6] 

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The overall lesson of the poem “Digging” by Seamus Heaney is you don’t have to follow the family business or what your parents want, follow your passions and strive for what you want to do in life and succeed. My sister and I definetly don’t want to go into the family business but we want to be as hardworking as our dad has always been. Some families end up having their children go into the family business but it is their choice. Follow your passion and achieve at what you love doing.

Overall it’s not bad. It’s a bit complicated in some parts just because it’s oddly worded. Try reading it yourself and see how you can simplify it a bit. You might also

want to go into a little more detail on everything and think of the hidden meanings behind the story not just the ones that were a little more obvious. (Hint: use a lot of the notes we took in class)

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 [K1]Need a header (Mowrey 1, 2, 3)

 [K2]Change it to “between his family tradition and his passion”

 [K3]Really confusing… Don’t really get it. Also have a lot of commas. Maybe you can break it up into diff. sentences or reword it.

 [K4]Really long.. shorten it so its something like “ because when Heany relates the pen as a gun it is represtented as a weapon that will help him escape the family tradition and pursue his passion.”

 [K5]Seamus shows that the son respects his family’s hard work that they do for a job.

 [K6]Don’t restate what your whole essay was about… show how this applies to our life or your life. For Example say how you or your sister don’t want to follow your parents trade or how Ms. Hawkins didn’t become a nurse like every other woman in her family.