Question

Look at the words the poet uses to describe what he sees and hears at Innisfree
i) bee-loud glade
ii) evening full of the linnet’s wing
iii) lake water lapping with low sounds
What picture do these words create in your mind?

Answer 1

Hint: Innisfree refers to the island in the lake of Innisfree in the poem ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ by W.B Yeats. Innisfree is a real island located in Ireland where the author spent some time during his childhood, usually in the summers.

Complete answer:
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree” talks about the poet’s intention to cut away from the busy life of London and settle in the small and quiet Innisfree.
i) The phrase ‘bee-loud glade’ means the loud buzzing of wild bees in the open nature. The poet tells us his intention of planting beans which will buzz with the sound of such bees.
ii) The phrase ‘evening full of the linnet’s wing’ refers to the sky filled with the fluttering and flying linnets (a type of bird). The poet describes how the course of the day goes by and describes how the evening in Innisfree looks like.
iii) ‘Lake water lapping with low sounds’: The waters and waves of the lake hit the shore of the island and make a pleasant and calming sound that the poet seems to enjoy a lot and is reminiscent of.

These sounds suggest the raw natural presence of Innisfree and the poet’s connection to it. It suggests the poet’s deep urge to connect with nature in Innisfree away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Note: The poem consists of three quatrains that prominently have an abab rhyming scheme. It is a musical poem and the poet uses alliteration, metaphors and personification to convey his longing urge to explore the tranquillity of Innisfree.