The Lake Isle of Innisfree

W.B. Yeats

Theme: longing + peace

“and I shall have some peace there”

• use of the word ‘there’ emphasises that he is not currently in his serene utopia, and desires to be there

• he describes the appeal of this remote, unspoiled place, as it is some where he may be at peace

• he assonance alludes to the contentment he finds in a solitary life

Theme: longing + home

“while I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core”

• wherever her goes, he can hear the lake still in the back of his mind

• his memories of Innisfree bring him contentment and joy, but also taunt him, as in spite of longing to return fiercely, it is not possible for the moment

• this emphasises his yearning to escape the unpleasantness of the real world, of the dull grey city, in favour of his content, calm utopia

Tone: patient + tranquil

“for peace comes dropping slow, dropping from the veils of the morning”

• he explains that peace is not to be rushed, he will wait until is is possible and then he shall return to Innisfree

• assonance of the ‘o’ sound emanates the tranquillity of the misty morning, and also sounds lethargic which captures the calm natural environment

Tone: escape from urbanism

“there midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, and evening full of the linnet’s wings”

• he can see the stars twinkle as there is no light pollution

• there is no noise pollution either, allowing him to hear the linnet’s wings

• melancholic tone as he creates this image of peace to convey his desire to escape from urban life

Imagery: escape

“a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made”

• image allows us to visualise and understand the minimalist life he wants for himself

• he wishes to escape from the complexities and pressures of modern life, and live in harmony with nature

• perhaps he desires to be recluse in order to write without distractions

Imagery: simplicity

“nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee”

• he would like to be self sustaining, and thus have no need to leave the utopia he has created for himself

• imagery immerses us in his minimalist utopia

• assonance of the ‘ee’ sound emphasise the sweet simplicity of living a recluse life

Language: desire to leave

“I will arise and go now, (and go to Innisfree)”

• archaic and biblical language emanates the poem’s timeless appeal

• first person pronoun used indicating that the poem is personal to the poet

• repetition of ‘go’, and the repetition of this phrase later in the poem, stresses his desire to leave

Language: basic, predictable life

“I hear lake water lapping with low sounds”

• repetitive alliteration of the ‘l’ sound reflects the comfort of a predictable life; predictable like the waves

• conveys the relaxing noise of the freshwater gently hitting the lake shore onomatopoeic + lethargic

Rhyming scheme

ABAB rhyming scheme

• reflects the control he longs to have over his life

• slow pace demonstrating the slow life he wishes to live