Introduction
The poem, "The lake Isle of innisfree" was composed by William Butler Yeats in 1888. Here, the poet mentions his desire to go to the lake island of Innisfree in search of peace. Thus he portrays a landscape that is incredibly peaceful and full of natural beauty, through the magical qualities of day and night. This also suggested a place that has not been diminished by human interference. In other words, we can say that the poem doesn't simply describes a water body or landscape, rather it symbolises freedom, peace and a place to escape from the hectic urban life.
The Lake Isle of Innisfree: Summary | Class 9 Beehive poem
The poet opens the poem by quoting his desire to go to the lake island of Innisfree and mentions three things that he wanted to do there. Thus, he wishes to build, by himself, a small cottage of clay and wattles. There he wanted to grow nine rows of beans. He will also keep honey bee hive. The poet wishes to live alone in glade with the buzzing sound of bees.
In the second stanza, the poet mentions the things of nature that made him feel peace in the Innisfree island. The morning scene makes him feel serene which indicates the gradual enveloping of peace on him. At this point, he also mentions that he enjoys the morning song of the cricket insects. Further, mentioning about the magical qualities of day and night he says that the brilliance of the twinkling midnight sky gives him immense pleasure. In the afternoon, the purple glow of the sunlight makes him feel happy and in the evening, he enjoys the linnet birds flying in the sky with their full wings.
In the last stanza, the poet repeated his determination to go to Innisfree. At this point, he says that whether it is day or night, all the time he hears the sound of the lake water hitting it's shore. Here, the poet also presented a comparison between the natural beauty of Innisfree with the roads and grey, dull pavements of the city. He says that, as the natural beauty of Innisfree symbolises happiness and peace of mind, on the other hand, the dull grey roads and pavements of the city symbolises decay and death. Finally, the poet pensoff his poem by saying that whenever he stands in the city, he could hear in his "heartcore" the sound of the lake water washing the shore.
Conclusion
Thus, in the poem, the poet wants peace of mind and want to escape the hectic urban life, which according to him, can only be achieved in the lake island of Innisfree.
