Since religious poetry expresses itself through the form of a poem as well as its theme (as I shall explain shortly), I will apply the methodology of close-reading to selected poems from these collections, namely: “I, in my Intricate Image” and “Altarwise by Owl-Light” from TFP and “The Conversation of Prayers” and “Fern Hill” from D&E. In order to illustrate how Thomas’s handling of religion developed across time, I shall discuss two collections which he published either side of World War Two: Twenty-Five Poems (TFP) (1936) and Deaths and Entrances (D&E) (1946). In this paper, I shall explore the role religious language and belief played in this quest. Dylan Marlais Thomas (1914-1953) was an Anglo-Welsh poet who sought to trace his roots in a bewildered literary and spiritual landscape.
This affected the way writers employed religious ideas, imagery, and language. The two world wars also raised the question of whether the existence of a Christian God had any relevance. The twentieth century saw a growing use of technological warfare which led some to fear that civilisation itself was at risk.
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