the treatment of “light” in “Fern Hill”.
In Dylan Thomas’s (1914 – 1953) “Fern Hill” (1945), light is one of the most beautiful and meaningful images. It shines throughout the poem as a symbol of life, purity, and creation. Light fills the poet’s childhood with warmth and wonder. It shows both the joy of living and the passage of time.
Light as the Symbol of Joy and Innocence: From the very beginning, the poem glows with light. The poet remembers his childhood days as,
“Golden in the heydays of his eyes.”
The light here represents his happiness and freedom. The sunlight, starlight, and moonlight fill the farm with peace and beauty. The poet’s world is bright and full of life. Light turns the simple farm into a heavenly place, where every moment feels magical and pure.
Light as the Power of Creation: The image of light also connects the poem to the idea of divine creation. The poet says,
“So it must have been after the birth of the simple light.”
This line recalls the Bible’s Genesis, where God first creates light. The morning at Fern Hill Farm feels like the first day of the world. The “simple light” symbolizes the birth of life, the awakening of the earth, and the innocence of childhood. Through light, Dylan Thomas joins the natural world with a spiritual vision.
Light as the Symbol of Time and Change: As the poem ends, the light changes its meaning. It becomes softer and sadder. The brightness of youth fades as Time takes control. The poet still sings, but he knows that light, like childhood, cannot last forever. The golden glow of morning slowly turns into the dim light of memory.
In “Fern Hill,” light stands for life itself, bright, pure, and divine, yet fleeting. It begins as the glow of childhood joy and ends as the gentle light of remembrance. Dylan Thomas uses light to show that life, like dawn, is beautiful because it must pass.
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