Simile:
* "And the slant of the sun on the land was like an axe" (Line 15): This simile compares the sun's angle to an axe, suggesting a powerful, almost destructive force.
* "All the sun long it was running, it was lovely, the hayfields high as the house, / The tunes from the chimneys, it was summer" (Lines 1-2): This simile compares the hayfields to the height of a house, emphasizing their abundance and the feeling of being surrounded.
Metaphor:
* "I was young and easy under the apple boughs" (Line 1): The "apple boughs" are a metaphor for a sense of youth and innocence, where the speaker feels carefree and untroubled.
* "Time held me green and dying / Though I sang in my chains like the sea" (Lines 23-24): Here, "green and dying" is a metaphor for the bittersweet nature of youth and its eventual passing. "Chains" represent the passage of time, and the speaker's singing symbolizes their resilience and defiance against it.
Personification:
* "The sabbath of the bees and flies on the fields" (Line 4): Bees and flies are given human-like qualities by being described as having a "sabbath," suggesting a sense of peace and tranquility.
* "Time let me hail and climb / Golden in the heydays of his eyes" (Lines 25-26): Time is personified as having "eyes," implying a sense of perception and awareness.
Alliteration:
* "All the sun long it was running, it was lovely" (Line 1): The repetition of the "l" sound creates a lyrical and flowing rhythm.
* "And the sabbath of the bees and flies on the fields" (Line 4): The repetition of "s" sounds creates a gentle and peaceful tone.
Assonance:
* "And the sun of the summer on the hill" (Line 9): The repetition of the short "u" sound creates a sense of warmth and light.
Imagery:
* "I was young and easy under the apple boughs" (Line 1): This line evokes vivid images of childhood innocence and carefree days spent in nature.
* "The sabbath of the bees and flies on the fields" (Line 4): This imagery paints a picture of a serene and peaceful scene in nature.
Symbolism:
* The "apple boughs" symbolize youth, innocence, and the carefree nature of childhood.
* The "green and dying" state symbolizes the bittersweet nature of youth and the inevitable passage of time.
* The "chains" represent the passage of time and its constraints.
These are just some of the key figures of speech used in "Fern Hill." The poem is rich with figurative language that creates a dreamlike atmosphere, evocative imagery, and a profound sense of the passage of time and the loss of innocence.