NCERT Class IX English (Beehive) The Lake Isle of Innisfree Summary

Summary of "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yeats:

First Stanza:

"I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade."

In this stanza, the poet expresses his intention to leave his current life and go to Innisfree, a place that represents peace and solitude for him. He plans to build a simple cabin from natural materials and live a self-sufficient life by planting bean rows and keeping a hive for bees. The idea of living alone, surrounded by nature's sounds, particularly the buzzing of bees, appeals to his desire for tranquility.

Second Stanza:

"And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evenings full of the linnet’s wings."

In the second stanza, the poet elaborates on the peaceful atmosphere he expects to find on Innisfree. He describes how peace will gradually envelop him, like the morning mist, accompanied by the gentle sounds of nature, such as crickets chirping. The imagery of glimmering midnight, the purple glow of noon, and evenings filled with the fluttering of linnet's wings further enhances the serene and almost magical quality of the island, which stands in stark contrast to his current surroundings.

Third Stanza:

"I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core."

In the final stanza, the poet reiterates his resolve to go to Innisfree. He reveals that the thought of the island is always with him, both day and night, and that he can hear the soothing sound of the lake water lapping against the shore, even when he is standing in the noisy, grey streets of the city. This persistent longing in his "deep heart's core" symbolizes his deep emotional connection to Innisfree and the peace it represents.

 

"The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is a lyric poem that captures the poet's deep yearning for the peace and serenity of Innisfree, a place where he spent much of his youth. The poem reflects his desire to escape from the noise and stress of city life to the tranquility of nature.

The poet imagines himself building a small, simple cabin on the island, made of natural materials like clay and wattles. He envisions living a self-sufficient life, growing beans, keeping bees, and enjoying the solitude of the "bee-loud glade." The peacefulness of the island is beautifully described through images of the morning's soft light, the glimmering midnight, and the quiet sounds of the linnet's wings in the evening.

Despite being physically in the city, the poet feels an irresistible pull toward Innisfree. The sound of the lake water lapping against the shore is a constant presence in his mind, symbolizing his deep, inner longing for the island's peace. The poem expresses a profound connection to nature and the desire to return to a simpler, more harmonious way of living.