Comment on the Images and Symbols Used in Fern Hill.

Answer

Comment on the images and symbols used in “Fern Hill.” 

Dylan Thomas’ (1914-1953) poem “Fern Hill” (1945) vividly portrays the speaker’s childhood experiences on the farm of his aunt. The poem employs a rich series of symbols and metaphors to evoke (stimulate) the sensitive and emotional world of the speaker’s past. Here are the images and symbols used in the poem.

Fern Hill: “Fern Hill” takes its title from an aunt’s farm that Dylan Thomas often visited as a child. In the poem, it represents the wonderful farm that the speaker recalls. The farm is a symbol of childhood’s joy and innocence, which has now been lost.

Colors: One of the most striking symbols in the poem is the use of color. The speaker describes “green” and “golden” colors to illustrate the simplicity and beautiful childhood. Here, green refers to the freshness of childhood days. He was once green but is now dying like all other green things. The golden color reflects the beauty of childhood.

Sun: One particularly remarkable image in the poem is of the sun. To the speaker, the sun sings when it rises. Then, it sets from the farm. This image serves to convey a sense of joy and vitality. It also suggests the cyclical nature of life and death.

Speaker’s Own Body: The speaker’s body is a symbol. The speaker describes himself as “young and easy” in the early part of the poem. The speaker says,

Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs

Here, he reflects on his childhood experiences. He emphasizes the youthful energy of his childhood.

In conclusion, Dylan Thomas’ use of images and symbols in “Fern Hill” is a powerful tool to evoke the speaker’s childhood experiences.