Fern Hill

Poetry | Dylan Thomas

What does the colour “green” signify in “Fern Hill”?

Premium

What does the colour green signify in Fern Hill In Dylan Thomas s Fern Hill the colour green appears again and again It is one of the most important symbols in the poem The word green reminds the reader of youth nature freedom and the freshness of life Through this colour the poet expresses both the joy of childhood and the passing of time Green as the Colour of Youth and Innocence At the beginning of the poem the poet says he was Young and easy under the apple boughs Later he was green and carefree Here green stands for childhood It is a time of purity laughter and new beginnings The poet feels alive happy and close to nature The world of Fern Hill Farm his Aunt Annie Jones s home is full of green trees grass and fields This colour paints the poet s early life as full

of growth and hope Green as the Colour of Nature and Harmony The colour green also reflects the deep unity between the child and nature The poet plays among the fields barns and rivers He feels one with the living world around him In nature s fire green as grass the poet sees energy and life everywhere Green becomes a symbol of nature s eternal renewal It shows that the poet s childhood is not just a personal memory but also a part of the great rhythm of life Green as the Colour of Change and Mortality In the final stanza the poet says Time held me green and dying Though I sang in my chains like the sea Here green no longer means only youth and joy It now suggests change and mortality Life that is still alive but slowly moving toward death The poet realizes that even while he was green time was silently making him older In Fern Hill the colour green symbolizes youth life and nature s beauty Dylan Thomas uses green to show that childhood is both a beginning and an ending It is a moment of joy that time will soon turn into memory nbsp

Continue Reading

Sign in and subscribe to unlock the full content