Summary – The Lake Isle of Innisfree
The poem expresses the poet W.B. Yeats’s deep desire to leave behind the noise and
restlessness of city life and live in peace at a quiet and natural place – the Lake Isle of
Innisfree.
He imagines building a small hut made of clay and wattles (woven sticks) on the island.
There, he will live a simple and self-sufficient life by growing beans in a small garden and
keeping bee-hives for honey.
The poet believes that on Innisfree, he will find real peace – a peace that comes slowly, like
dew drops falling in the morning. He describes the beauty of the island at different times of
the day:
● Morning filled with mist and stillness.
● Midnight shining with stars (midnight’s glimmer).
● Noon glowing with a soft purple light.
● Evenings filled with the songs of linnet birds.
Even though he is standing in the middle of a busy city, surrounded by noise and crowd, he
can still hear in his heart the gentle sound of the lake water lapping against the shore. This
shows how deeply connected he feels to nature, and how it gives him comfort even when he
is far away.
1. Who is the poet of the poem
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
Answer: The poet is William Butler Yeats (W.B. Yeats), a famous Irish poet. He loved nature
and often wrote about peace and beauty found in natural surroundings.
2. What does the poet want to do after going to Innisfree?
Answer: The poet wants to build a small hut of clay and sticks, grow beans in his garden,
and keep bee-hives for honey. He wishes to live a simple and peaceful life, close to nature.
3. How does the poet plan to live at Innisfree?
Answer: The poet plans to live a life of self-sufficiency at Innisfree. He will:
● Build a hut with clay and wattles.
● Grow beans for food.
● Keep honeybees for honey.
● Spend his days in the lap of nature, surrounded by peace.
4. What kind of peace does the poet expect to get at Innisfree?
Answer: The poet expects a deep spiritual peace, not just silence. He compares it to dew
falling slowly in the morning. It is a natural, gentle, and everlasting peace, far away from the
noise of the city.
5. What images of nature are used in the poem?
Answer: The poet uses many beautiful images of nature:
● Morning mist and dew.
● Midnight shining with stars.
● Noon glowing with purple light.
● Evening filled with linnet birds’ songs.
● The sound of lake water lapping on the shore.
These images make the reader imagine the beauty of Innisfree.
6. Why does the poet want to leave the city?
Answer: The poet feels disturbed by the noise, rush, and artificial life of the city. He longs for
the quietness and natural beauty of Innisfree. He believes true happiness and peace can
only be found in nature.
7. What is the meaning of “lake water lapping with low sounds by the
shore”?
Answer: It refers to the gentle sound of water waves touching the shore of the lake. The poet
says he can still hear this sound in his heart, even when he is standing in a busy city. This
shows his strong connection with nature.
8. What is the central idea of the poem?
Answer: The central idea is that real peace and happiness can be found only in close
contact with nature, not in materialistic city life. The poet dreams of living a simple life at
Innisfree, in harmony with nature.
Q1. What does the poem teach us about the importance of nature in our
lives?
Answer: The poem teaches us that nature is the true source of peace and happiness. Unlike
the noisy and stressful city life, nature calms our mind and refreshes our soul. It reminds us
that human beings should stay connected with nature for a healthy and balanced life.
Q2. How does the poem highlight the difference between city life and life
in nature?
Answer: The poem shows that city life is crowded, noisy, and artificial, which makes people
restless. In contrast, life in nature, like at Innisfree, is peaceful, simple, and fulfilling. The
poet values natural beauty and solitude more than materialistic comforts of the city.
Q3. What values of simple living are reflected in the poem?
Answer: The poem reflects the values of contentment, simplicity, and self-sufficiency. The
poet wishes to live in a small hut, grow his own food, and enjoy the peace of nature. This
shows that real joy comes from simple living, not from luxury.
Q4. What personal qualities of the poet do we see through the poem?
Answer: Through the poem, we see that the poet is thoughtful, sensitive, and peace-loving.
He values inner peace more than wealth. He is also imaginative and deeply connected to
nature, as he can feel the beauty of Innisfree even while standing in a noisy city.
Q5. In the poem, the poet hears the lake water lapping in his heart even
in the city. What value does this reflect?
Answer: This reflects the value of inner connection with nature. It shows that when we truly
love something, it stays with us wherever we go. The poet’s heart is so attached to nature
that it gives him comfort even in the middle of the city’s chaos.
Q6. What message does the poet give to the modern generation through
this poem?
Answer: The poet’s message to the modern generation is that material progress alone
cannot bring true happiness. People should spend time in nature to find peace, reduce
stress, and live a healthier life. The poem encourages us to balance progress with simplicity
and natural living.
