Describe Dylan Thomas’s use of imagery in the poem “Fern Hill”.
Introduction: Thomas’ poem “Fern Hill” exhibits a vivid portrait of the speaker’s childhood experiences on his family’s farm. The poem employs a rich series of images and metaphors to evoke the sensitive and emotional world of the speaker’s past.
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Colors: One of the most striking images 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 now dying like all other green things.
“Time held me green and dying.”
The golden color reflects the beauty of childhood. He used to roam the farm, among the apple trees, gladly. His childhood was beautiful and spontaneous.
“Time let me hail and climb
Golden in the heydays of his eyes,
And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns.”
The use of color serves to create a vivid picture of the farm. It conveys the speaker’s emotional attachment to it.
Natural World: Another key image in the poem is that of the natural world. The speaker repeatedly discusses the animals and plants of the farm. He thinks that the farm is a living being. It can breathe with its own rhythm. Dylan Thomas also imagines that the farm wanders during the night and comes back in the very morning like a wanderer.
Sun: One particularly remarkable image in the poem is that 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 own body is indeed an image. The speaker describes himself as “young and easy” in the early part of the poem. Here, he reflects on his childhood experiences. He emphasizes the physical sensations of his youth. This imagery is used to convey the sense of innocence and wonder that he feels during his childhood.
Conclusion: Overall, Dylan Thomas’ use of imagery in “Fern Hill” is a powerful tool. It evokes the speaker’s childhood experiences and the natural world surrounding him.
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