The Lake Isle of Innisfree Summary
The poet is reminded of his past, his boyhood, when he visited the peaceful Lake Isle of
Innisfree. He wants to go there and says that he will live there all alone. He wants to build a
small cabin with clay and wattles. He would grow beans and get a honeybee hive for honey to
survive on.
The poet describes the peaceful natural surroundings of the lake. He says that the scene of the
cloudy mornings, the shining stars, the glowing Sun and birds flying in the sky give him peace. He
feels relaxed to hear the pleasant sound of thecricket’ssong.
The poet feels the urgency to go to the lake Isle of Innisfree. In the depth of his heart, he can hear
the sound of the lake waters hitting the shore. It is as if the lake is calling him. He hears the sound
everywhere – either on the crowded roads or the grey – coloured pavements of the city in which he
lives. This indicates that he wants to escape from the artificial life of the city into the peaceful
surroundings of nature.
Word meaning
Arise: stand up
Cabin: room
Wattles: twisted sticks for making fences, walls
Glade: clearing, open space
Bee loud refers to the sound made by the buzzing of the bees.
Veils: a piece of fine material worn by women to protect or hide the face
Cricket: an insect related to the grasshoppers but with shorter legs. The male
produces a characteristic musical chirping sound.
Linnet: a small brown and grey bird with a short beak
Glimmer means something which is shining.
Night and day: all the time
Lapping: striking
Heart’s core: the innermost part of the heart
Literary Devices in the poem
1. Rhyme Scheme: abab
2. Alliteration: The repetition of a consonant sound in two or more closely
placed words is called alliteration. The instances of alliteration in the poem
are –
A.‘hive’, ‘honey bee’ – ‘h’ sound is repeated;
b.‘lake’, ‘lapping’, ‘low’ – ‘l’ sound is repeated
Repetition: ‘I will arise and go now’ is repeated in stanza 1 and 3
4. Personification: morning is personified
5. Metaphor: clouds are compared to veils
Thinking about the poem
(Page 54)
Question 1.
What kind of place is Innisfree?
1.The three things the poet wants to do when he goes back there (stanza I);
2.What he hears and sees there and its effect on him (stanza II);
3.What he hears in his “heart’s core” even when he is far away from
Innisfree (stanza III).
Answer: Innisfree is a beautiful place where nature is in its frill
swing.Secluded lake getaway
1.The poet wants to build a small hut of clay and wattles. He will have a nine
bean-rows and a hive for the honeybees.
2.He hears peace come dropping and the cricket sing. He sees the midnight
shine and a purple glow at noon. Evenings are full of linnet’s wings. He feels
happy and gets peace of mind.
3.The poet hears the lake water lapping the shore with low sounds.
Question 2.
By now you may have concluded that Innisfree is a simple, natural place, full
of beauty and peace. How does the poet contrast it with where he now
stands? (Read stanza III.)
Answer:.
The natural beauty of Innisfree is used and explained in contrast with the
roads and pavements in city. The pavement is of grey colour which
symbolises decay and death.
Question 3.
Do you think Innisfree is only a place, or a state of mind? Does the poet
actually miss the place of his boyhood days?
Answer:
The natural beauty of Innisfree is not the creation of the poet’s fancy. It is a
real place that gives solace to the frustrated souls. The poet longs to live at
such a beautiful and peaceful place. He misses it a lot.Rustic cabin retreat
II.
Question 1.
Look at the words the poet uses to describe what he sees and hears at
Innisfree
Bee-loud glade
Evenings full of the linnet’s wings
Lake water lapping with low sounds What pictures do these words create in
your mind?
Answer:
These words create the picture of the hive and honeybee humming all
around. It is in the glade.
Linnet is a bird with wings. When it flutters its wings, it looks beautiful. And
when the bird sits on a tree amidst beautiful natural scene, it leaves an
indelible impression on the minds of the beholder.
It Is an ordinary but bewitching scene. The waves strike the lake’s shore to
create a pleasing and soothing sound.
Lakeside tranquility art prints
Question 2.
Look at these words;
… peace comes dropping slow Dropping from the veils of the morning to
where the cricket sings
What do these words mean to you? What do you think “comes dropping slow
… from the veils of the morning?” What does “to where the cricket sings”
mean?
Answer:
These words mean that peace surrounds that area at dawn. The pleasing and
melodious sound of cricket greets the morning. It adds sweetness to the
serenity of the place.
COMPETENCY BASED QUESTIONS
Q1.Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear the 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
Q1. What is the poet’s tone as he repeats “I will arise and go now”?
Ans. The poet is determined to go back to Innisfree.
Q2. What does the poet hear?
Ans. The poet hears the lake water lapping with low sounds against the
shore.
Q3. What do you learn about the poet in this stanza?
Ans. The poet loves nature and is determined to return to live with nature
Q4. How does the poet contrast London and Innisfree?
Ans. The poet contrasts the colours of nature with the grey of the London
streets
