The Lake Isle of Innisfree

1
The Lake Isle of Innisfree

• By
• William Butler Yeats

2
Background To The Poem

• Where is the Lake of Innisfree?
• There are many theories about this place. Was it
  an actual place? Was this place only a figure of
  Yeats imagination?

Clues From The Poem

• A small island in the middle of the lake
• It is a natural haven
• The isle if surrounded by plants and wildlife
• The place is peaceful and quiet

EXERCISES
3
Opinions of Literacy Critics

• An imaginary place invented by Yeats in his mind
• A place he thought about when he wanted to escape
  from his disappointments and harshness of life.

EXERCISES
4
Stanza One

• The poet says he loves Innisfree and enjoys
  pastoral life. He likes living alone, his liking
  for the rural life can be seen in his desire to
  build a small cabin made of clay and wattle. He
  will use wood to build his cabin and plant beans,
  keep a hive for bees and live alone. He likes to
  listen to the buzzing sound of bees and live in a
  grassy open space in a forest or glade.

EXERCISES
5
Stanza Two

• He finds that peace comes slowly and he enjoys
  the atmosphere which is free from pollution. The
  poet refers to the mist (veils of the morning)
  and stars (glimmer) and possibly the wild blue
  and purple flowers in the meadows (purple glow).
  He also talks about the linnet, a small brown
  singing bird.

EXERCISES
6
Stanza Three

• The poet reassures himself to return to Innisfree
  because he misses it. He hears the quiet sounds
  of the lake. He is nostalgic as he stands on the
  pavement near the road. The hearts core refers
  to the depth of the heart.

EXERCISES
7
Theme

• The poem deals with themes such as
• Nature rejuvenates the mood and soul
• The pastoral environment has a healing effect
• According to the poet, nature has the effect of
  revitalising and refreshing. He seems to imply
  that person should retreat to a rural area in
  order to recharge himself if he is tired and
  exhausted.

EXERCISES
8
Exercises

• Exercise 1 (MCQ) Meaning
• Stanza 1 (View Notes)
• Stanza 2 (View Notes)
• Stanza 3 (View Notes)
• Exercise 2 (Gap-Fill) Theme (View Notes)