The Lake Isle of Innisfree

Question 1

Author

Answer 1

William Butler Yeats

Question 2

Themes

Answer 2

• nature
• isolation
• love
• discontent (led him to imagine this perfect place)
• longing (to go back to nature + live a self-sufficient life)

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

• 3 4-line stanzas

- ABAB rhyme scheme

Question 4

Stanza 1

Answer 4

• opening line echoes prodigal son - “I will arise + go to my father” - this biblical reference reinforces idea of Innisfree being an almost holy place in Yeats’ eyes, + reminds of the prodigal son returning from chaotic life to simplistic place of childhood, just as Yeats wishes to do
• goes on to describe idyllic, self-sufficient life he’ll lead there (9 bean rows, hive for the honey bee)
• wishes to live in a place of complete quiet, the “bee-loud” glade - implies the buzzing of bees and other sounds of nature are the only sound in this place
• in this first stanza, Yeats is seemingly rejecting the hustle + bustle of the modern world, but doesn’t describe this modern world in detail, giving it timeless quality

Question 5

Stanza 2

Answer 5

• continues to describe Innisfree
• says he’ll have peace there
• describes different times of day, the “veils of morning”, or the fog in the morning, the glimmering midnight (stars, fireflies), the “purple glow” of noon (lavender), evenings full of linnets wings

Question 6

Stanza 3

Answer 6

• repeating of first line (emphasises strength of his longing to go)
• is so entranced in own fan says can hear the lake water (alliteration + assonance emphasise tranquility of scene)
• we’re brought back to his reality of standing on the grey pavements of London, where he lived at the time (doesn’t have to be London - universal)
• complete antithesis of Innisfree fantasy
• can hear the lake water deep in his heart wherever he goes in London

Question 7

Tone

Answer 7

• longing
• loving
• isolation

Question 8

Techniques

Answer 8

1. Imagery - wonderful imagery throughout, especially auditory (cricket sings, linnet’s wings, lake water lapping, bee-loud glade)
2. Alliteration
   - e.g. “Lake water lapping with low sounds on the shore”
3. ABAB rhyming - creates lulling, calming effect
4. Repetition to emphasise a point - e.g. “I will arise + go now…”