GCE O/L - New syllabus

English Literature made easy - Poetry:

The Lake of Innisfree:

W.B. Yeats

The Irish Poet W.B. Yeats is considered as one of the greatest poets. His lyric, satirical, tragic, political poems and his 'poetic dramas' are of fine quality Yeats' finest poems are 'Byzantium poems.'

In the poem 'The Lake of Innisfree,' yeats expresses his idea of giving up the life filled with 'artificial features' amidst all the artificial features he is involved in, he hears the delicate peaceful sound of the rippling water.

"..I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore."

Yeats' admiration of the beauty and serenity of the lake, his anxiety to leave for Innisfree is highlighted by the words.

"I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree" yeats has emphasised the peace and natural atmosphere reigning in the remote areas. His decision to leave his present abode is quite clear and determinate.

"And a small cabin build there of clay and wattles made

Nine bean rows will I have there - a hive for the honey bee

And live alone in the bee-loud glade"

Nature's wonderful creation is so majestic yet peaceful so that they would free him of the nostalgia 'the road way' the pavements grey. The word arise in the first line of the poem highlights his ardent desire to leave the city.

The opening lines of the first and the third stanza stress the ardent desire of the poet to quit the urban area seeking peace and beauty, naturalness and serenity in the "Lake of Inn is free."

"And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow."

The contrasting images of Innisfree and the urban area is distinctively emphasised, the poet prefers "an evening full of linnet's wings." Linnet is an innocent bird symbolizing innocence and peace.

Yeats' diction style is superb and impressive maintaining his expression of ideas in a striking manner.

The three stanzas take the future tense though they vary in expression. "I will arise and go now - - "

"And I shall have some peace there - -"

"And I will arise and go now - - "

Yeats' wording is expressive highlighting the importance of his expression. The monotonous life in the urbanized environment is symbolized by using the edour GREY the enchanting environment carrying its simplicity is symbolized by

"veils of morning"
"linnet's wings"
"a bee loud glade"
"cricketsings"
"the honey bee"

All these little living beings suggesting and highlighting the peace, beauty and harmony woven together to create the fascinating elements in the rural locality which are but friendly companions of the peace loving people.

Yeats' elegant use of words, visual images and auditory images create the background for his readers to share with him the peace and beauty of the countryside "I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore."

Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng.