Final answer:
Seamus Heaney's 'Digging' expresses a tone of respect and admiration towards the work of the speaker's father and grandfather, using reflective language to capture the skill of their labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Seamus Heaney's poem Digging, the tone towards the speaker's father's and grandfather's work is one of respect and admiration. Heaney uses a reflective and appreciative tone to highlight the skilled labor of his ancestors. For example, the poem includes lines such as, "By God, the old man could handle a spade. Just like his old man" and "The coarse boot nestled on the lug, the shaft Against the inside knee was levered firmly." These lines demonstrate a detailed appreciation of the labor and the skill involved. Moreover, the poem concludes with the speaker's acknowledgment of his own tool, a pen, and his intention to 'dig' with it, signifying his pursuit to honor his forebears through his writing.
The tone of Digging changes throughout the poem, starting with a sense of intimacy and moving towards introspection. Heaney's word choice and mood convey complex feelings about heritage, family tradition, and personal vocation, ultimately creating a moving homage to generational work and the speaker's place within that continuum.