Question

Between the first and last stanzas of "Digging," what change takes place in the speaker's attitude toward his pen? What significance does this change have for the speaker? In your answers, focus on the ideas of the pen as a gun (first stanza) and the pen as a digging tool (last stanza).

Answer 1

Between the first and last stanzas of "Digging," the speaker's attitude toward his pen changes from a negative tool which the gun represents putting an end to something, to a positive digging tool which a pen represents something which implies the start of something useful.  The significance this change has for the speaker is the concrete illustration of the fruits of an honest labor.