Final answer:
The word 'firmly' in the excerpt emphasizes the father's expertise with the spade, suggesting his strength, proficiency, and comfort with hard labor. It illustrates the respect for familial legacy and the traditional work ethic associated with manual labor. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word 'firmly' in the excerpt from 'digging' plays a critical role in shaping the reader's understanding by highlighting the strength and expertise of the father who handles the spade with competence and assurance. This precision suggests a sense of mastery and a deep familiarity with laborious work, dismissing options that imply awkwardness with the tool or dislike for physical labor.
The word choice directs us to appreciate the father's skillful and resolute engagement with his task. We see recurring themes of labor, skill, and the complexities of familial relationships. The passages provided evoke various families' hard-working and determined nature, especially when it involves interactions with the land, which is deeply tied to rural life and agricultural work.
The use of the word 'firmly' does not direct attention to the pen, suggest the spade's weight as too heavy, nor emphasize the speaker's distaste for hard work. Instead, it emphasizes the capability and firm grip of the father, highlighting not just his physical strength but also his proficiency and determination in a task likely passed down through generations, reflecting an undercurrent of respect for traditional work ethic and the legacy of manual labor within the family. This concept applies across several dynamics seen in the different passages, whether it be the digging of graveyards, the persistent climbing with a burden, or even the harsh and relentless demeanor of a figure like Mr. Gore.