Fern Hill Essay, Research Paper

Fern Hill

Everyone wants to be a child forever. If that were possible, there would be no worry of growing old or dying. In his poem, Fern Hill , Dylan Thomas portrays the desire for infinite youth through the use of symbolism and imagery.

It s not hard to see that Dylan Thomas was a symbolist, often using personal symbols to suggest emotions in Fern Hill . He uses the farm as a palace for the innocence of childhood, a place where he can be free of worry and be the prince (line 6) of his world. Thomas also uses the natural world as a symbol in his childlike fantasy. Nature can seem full of life and even immortal. He particularly describes the apple trees as being a place where he can be young and easy (line 1). The days are even measured by the sun and the moon instead of standard time, which makes his world seem more continuous.

Dylan Thomas also uses a lot of imagery in his poem. The extensive use of the color green sets the tone of youthful happiness. Nature is green and alive and this makes him feel more alive. He also uses the sun and its golden hues to make it clear just how wonderful and bright childhood can be. At times, his imagery can seem overwhelming, but he seems to be doing it on purpose, giving an overall emotional feeling instead of a particular attitude or thought. There is even a sense of music when Thomas describes how time moves slowly, as in lines 17 and 18:

And the sabbath rang slowly

In the pebbles of the holy streams

Near the end of the poem, especially the last line, Thomas concludes the experience with a feeling of infinite power, which is something a child often feels. Even as death comes to him, he still sings in his chains (line 54). Dylan Thomas s use of symbolism and imagery gives the poem an overall appreciation, if not desire, for eternal youthfulness.