The Lake Isle of Innisfree
by William Butler Yeats
The Poem:
"I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin built there, of clay and wattle made,
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core."
The Summary of the Poem:
Innisfree was an actual place in Ireland and Yeats had spent some time at this beautiful spot. The poet was attracted to the place for the reasons he gives in the poem; it is peaceful; it is quiet; and it is surrounded by nature. The poem has been divided into three paras.
In the first para, the poet wants to get up and go to Innisfree. There is a small cabin for him to stay. It is made of clay and wattles. He has plans to grow nine bean-rows and a hive for the honey bee. He wants to live alone in the buzzing of the bees.
In the second stanza, the poet says that he would have peace there. He will find peace being in the close contact of nature. He can find peace in the layer of mists in the morning where the cricket sings. He will have a glimmering midnight and a purple noon. Linnets will sing in the evening.
In the last stanza, the poet says that he wants to go Innisfree at that very moment and he wants to stay there for always. He can hear the lapping sound of the lake water standing on the shore. He will bear the peace everywhere if he is on a road or on a pavement. He will save the serene feeling deep in his heart and cherish it always.
COMPREHENSION
1. Answer the following questions.
a. What does the poet find so attractive about the Lake Isle of Innisfree?
= The poet finds the peace and serenity of the Lake Isle of Innisfree so attractive.
b. What words does the poet use to describe how calmness and tranquillity will come to Innisfree?
= The poet uses the words 'dropping slow' to describe how calmness and tranquillity will come to Innisfree.
c. How does the poet describe midnight, noon and evening?
= The poet describes midnight with all a glimmer, noon with a purple glow and evening with full of linnet's wings.
d. What is so special about the sound produced by the following line?
"I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore."
= Here the poet has depicted the sound of the water in the lake moving in gentle waves. That is so soothing and full of peace.
e. What sounds is the poet looking forward to hearing in Innisfree?
= The poet is looking forward to hear the lapping sounds of the water or the lake in Innisfree.
These questions are more difficult. Discuss them first.
f. Why do you think that the poet says he is going to have nine bean-rows and a hive? Is the number and the choice important? What would you have had?
= By nine bean-rows, the poet has drawn the reference of the allusion of the nine fruits of the holy spirit. Those are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. On the other hand, bees are the symbol of selflessness. They have devotion for the queen. The poet also wants to lead a selfless life approaching towards peace and tranquillity.
The number and choice is important in the terms of literary excellence. The poet has make us out the greater aspect of life by using those symbols. The poet does not have faith or liking on the materialistic life he was leading. According to him, peace and happiness could only be found in return to the simple living of the past.
I would have had some orchards of white flowers which bloom in the morning. And I would have had some birds which sing very sweetly like nightingale.
g. What does the expression 'pavements grey' suggest? How does this contrast with the scene in Innisfree?
= The expression 'pavements grey' suggests the reality and harshness of the city life.
Yeats was a believer in magic and much of his work is mystical. It has a dream-like quality. He was a firm believer in the idea that the age he was living in, with its materialism, was no good and that peace and happiness could only be found in a return to the simple living.
In this poem, Yeats shows clearly that even if he has to live in the city with all its ills, he can find happiness and feel the peace of the far away beauty of nature. Innisfree is a serene, tranquil and peaceful spot far more different from the hustle bustle of the city life.
h. What do you think is meant by 'deep heart's core'? Have you ever heard anything in your 'deep heart's core'?
= I think 'deep heart's core' means that the poet has a good memory of Innisfree saved in his heart. He carries the peace feeling and nostalgia of Innisfree in his heart. He can feel and sense the peace of Innisfree and the lapping sound of the water of the lake in his heart.
In this poem, the poet shows clearly that even if he has to live in the city with all its ills, he can find happiness and feel 'in his heart's core' the beauty and peace of Innisfree. The poet was attracted to the place due to the peace, quietness, and beauty of nature.
Yes I have heard the solitariness of the mountain while I was in the Himalayan mountain being the part of a tour. The huge mountain hold all its calmness and serenity in spite of being so big and high.
About the Poet:
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was born near Dublin in Ireland. He was educated in London and returned to Ireland in 1880. Soon afterwards he began his writing career and many years later, in 1923, he received the Nobel Prize for Literature.