Lake Isle of Innisfree - William Butler Yeats
1
, Lake of Innisfree: William butler Yeats
R Line Analysis
Stanza 1 :
FORM
• Regular structure.
• Rhyme scheme: ABAB
• Stanza 1: one sentence.
• Natural break after line 2.
• Future tense is used.
Setting:
• Where – Innisfree.
• When – Yearning to leave now on this journey.
1 I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, Metaphor - "The lake isle of Innisfree": Innisfree is compared
to an isle (island), representing a secluded and tranquil place
He is homesick and the painful situation in separate from the chaotic world
which he finds himself, can only be ALLUSION to Luke 15: The Prodigal Son. Rising from a
changed by returning to Innisfree. spiritual sleep – words used in the Bible when the prodigal
son decides to return to his home.
REPETITION of “and go” : determination, insistence. The
urgency of his intention to leave is emphasized.
“Arise”: Get up
“I will arise and go” – refrain -EMPHASIS on seeking
freedom. The use of ‘I’ strengthens the idea of staying alone
The speaker begins the poem by announcing his
intentions to the reader. The speaker declares their
intention to leave their current location and travel to
Innisfree as a symbol: Innisfree, emphasizing a sense of determination and
• Symbolizes an ideal image of nature. eagerness to escape their current surroundings.
• Innisfree REPRESENTS idealized Innisfree: End rhyme stresses -FREE
nature, which is inherently In context it means to stand up after a fall and to change to a
unattainable. life of goodness. BUT here it refers to the Lake Isle of
• EMBODIES a deep spiritual fulfilment Innisfree where he can become really alive and happy.
that CITY LIFE CANNOT offer. ”Will”: shows determination and an urgency.
• Innisfree is a state of mind – a I will arise and go now: When Yeats wrote this poem he was
daydream that offers a momentary in London There he happened to see in a shop-window a little
escape from city life. ball dancing on a jet of water. His home-sickness was
aroused by this spectacle and the call of the water around the
isle made his heart restless,
2 And a small cabin build there, of clay and The speaker plans to construct a simple dwelling using
wattles made; natural materials like clay and wattles, suggesting a desire for
a humble and harmonious existence in tune with nature.
cabin: Smal, simple house, made of wood and clay .Small hut
He intends to build himself a small usually made of wood.
cabin using clay and wattles. wattles : Kind of thin wood, twigs .Structure of sticks or twigs
His intention is to live a minimal life. woven under and over thicker upright sticks, used for fences,
What he desires most, is to live amid nature walls etc.
The home that the speaker fantasizes about ”there”: More information about what he plans to do when he
building on Innisfree is a SYMBOL of the arrives at Innisfree. (Four times)
simple life of meditative (thoughtful) labour
that the speaker longs to lead
2
1
, Lake of Innisfree: William butler Yeats
R Line Analysis
Stanza 1 :
FORM
• Regular structure.
• Rhyme scheme: ABAB
• Stanza 1: one sentence.
• Natural break after line 2.
• Future tense is used.
Setting:
• Where – Innisfree.
• When – Yearning to leave now on this journey.
1 I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, Metaphor - "The lake isle of Innisfree": Innisfree is compared
to an isle (island), representing a secluded and tranquil place
He is homesick and the painful situation in separate from the chaotic world
which he finds himself, can only be ALLUSION to Luke 15: The Prodigal Son. Rising from a
changed by returning to Innisfree. spiritual sleep – words used in the Bible when the prodigal
son decides to return to his home.
REPETITION of “and go” : determination, insistence. The
urgency of his intention to leave is emphasized.
“Arise”: Get up
“I will arise and go” – refrain -EMPHASIS on seeking
freedom. The use of ‘I’ strengthens the idea of staying alone
The speaker begins the poem by announcing his
intentions to the reader. The speaker declares their
intention to leave their current location and travel to
Innisfree as a symbol: Innisfree, emphasizing a sense of determination and
• Symbolizes an ideal image of nature. eagerness to escape their current surroundings.
• Innisfree REPRESENTS idealized Innisfree: End rhyme stresses -FREE
nature, which is inherently In context it means to stand up after a fall and to change to a
unattainable. life of goodness. BUT here it refers to the Lake Isle of
• EMBODIES a deep spiritual fulfilment Innisfree where he can become really alive and happy.
that CITY LIFE CANNOT offer. ”Will”: shows determination and an urgency.
• Innisfree is a state of mind – a I will arise and go now: When Yeats wrote this poem he was
daydream that offers a momentary in London There he happened to see in a shop-window a little
escape from city life. ball dancing on a jet of water. His home-sickness was
aroused by this spectacle and the call of the water around the
isle made his heart restless,
2 And a small cabin build there, of clay and The speaker plans to construct a simple dwelling using
wattles made; natural materials like clay and wattles, suggesting a desire for
a humble and harmonious existence in tune with nature.
cabin: Smal, simple house, made of wood and clay .Small hut
He intends to build himself a small usually made of wood.
cabin using clay and wattles. wattles : Kind of thin wood, twigs .Structure of sticks or twigs
His intention is to live a minimal life. woven under and over thicker upright sticks, used for fences,
What he desires most, is to live amid nature walls etc.
The home that the speaker fantasizes about ”there”: More information about what he plans to do when he
building on Innisfree is a SYMBOL of the arrives at Innisfree. (Four times)
simple life of meditative (thoughtful) labour
that the speaker longs to lead
2
