Thomas Dylan's Fern Hill is one of its best poems and for this reason it
has invited more debate and interpretation than any of his other poems. The
poem revolves around the theme of Time and how each one of us is a victim
of this mighty force. Despite the pleasant depiction of childhood's
carefree days, the poem actually contains sad rather melancholic
undertones. This is because the poem is less about poet's carefree
childhood on the far, and more about Time's strict restrictions placed on
one's happiness and pleasure. The poet maintains that while childhood is an
essentially worry-free time when one's attention is fixed more on
extraction of maximum pleasure from harmless activities, Time exists as the
constant reminder of limitation and restriction. Time reminds us that
childhood days will not last forever and we shall soon be entering a more
difficult phase of life and eventually meet death. Time thus symbolizes
death and an ending in the novel. It exists as the harsh, brutal and
unyielding reminder of life coming to an end.
Golden in the mercy of his means, (12-14)
Fern Hill is essentially autobiographic in nature. It reflects the actual
childhood experiences of the poet himself who had spent his early years on
his aunt's farm. His experiences are rather generic which explains that the
poet was reflecting the views of most people. Fern Hill has a universal
message though it is largely based on poet's personal childhood
experiences. Martha Scott (1998) writes: "One of Thomas's later and more
famous poems, "Fern Hill" is an exhilarating recreation of childhood. The
poet recalls his childhood summers spent on his aunt's farm in Wales; it is
a sensual, spiritual and joyous remembrance. Although there are constant
references to the impact of time, the mood is anything but downcast. A
sense of freshness and harmony with nature prevails." Everyth
...