The Lake Isle of Innisfree

Solutions

I.

1. What kind of place is Innisfree? Think about:
Innisfree is a peaceful and natural island away from the noise and stress of city life.

(i) the three things the poet wants to do when he goes back there (stanza I);
The poet wishes to build a small cabin made of clay and sticks, grow bean plants for food, and keep a beehive for honey. These activities show his desire to live a simple and self-sufficient life close to nature.

(ii) what he hears and sees there and its effect on him (stanza II);
At Innisfree, the poet imagines hearing birds, bees, and the gentle sounds of nature. He sees beautiful mornings, shining midnight skies, and peaceful evenings filled with birds flying. All these sights and sounds bring him deep peace and happiness.

(iii) what he hears in his “heart’s core” even when he is far away from Innisfree (stanza III).
Even when he is far away, the poet continuously hears the soft sound of lake water in his heart. This shows that his longing for Innisfree remains strong and emotionally alive within him.

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.)
The poet contrasts the calm beauty of Innisfree with his present surroundings in the city, where he stands on grey pavements and busy roadways. Unlike the peaceful island filled with natural sounds, the city feels dull, noisy, and lifeless. This contrast highlights his deep desire to escape urban life.

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?
Innisfree is not just a physical place but also a state of mind representing peace, comfort, and emotional satisfaction. The poet truly misses the place connected with his childhood memories and dreams of returning to that calm and happiness.

II.

1. Look at the words the poet uses to describe what he sees and hears at Innisfree

(i) bee-loud glade
It creates an image of a quiet open space in nature filled with the soft humming sound of bees, showing liveliness and natural harmony.

(ii) evenings full of the linnet’s wings
This suggests birds flying freely in the evening sky, creating a peaceful and beautiful natural scene.

(iii) lake water lapping with low sounds
It forms a calming picture of gentle waves touching the shore, producing soft and soothing sounds.

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?
“Peace comes dropping slow” suggests that true peace arrives gradually and gently, not suddenly.
The phrase “dropping from the veils of the morning” means peace seems to flow softly with the freshness and calmness of early morning nature.
“To where the cricket sings” refers to the quiet natural surroundings where even small creatures like crickets add to the peaceful atmosphere.
Together, these lines show how nature slowly fills the poet’s mind with calmness and inner peace.