THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE – Extra Questions and Notes

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE –

Extra Questions and Notes

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE

By- W.B. Yeats

INTRODUCTION

William Butler Yeats longs to live in a peaceful and beautiful place. In his imagination comes the name of Innisfree where he spent a lot of time as a boy. He knows that a place of natural beauty and peace like Innisfree makes the human soul light. One enjoys life fully in the lap of nature.

((विलियम बट्लर यीट्स एक शांत और सुंदर स्थान पर जीवन व्यतीत करने की कामना करता है । उसकी कल्पना में इनिसफ्री नामक स्थान का नाम आता है, जहाँ पर उसने एक बालक के रूप मेँ बहुत-सा समय बिताया था । वह जानता है कि इनिसफ्री जैसी प्राकृतिक सुंदरता और शांति वाला स्थान मनुष्य की आत्मा का भार हल्का कर देता है । मनुष्य प्रकृति की गोद में जीवन का पूर्ण आनंद लेता है ।)

THEME

The poem revolves around the idea that the idyllic life in the countryside with beautiful, peaceful and natural surroundings gives much more pleasure than life in cities with its noise and din, sound and fury. The poet who had, during his boyhood, spent his summers on the green and watery landscape of the Lake Isle of Innisfree, feels a deep longing to shun the city life and to settle down in the peaceful environment on the island. A simple life with only a few simple needs will be more delightful than the complicated and hectic life in the city.

TITLE

The title of the poem refers to the place the poet longs to go to. An actual place in County Sligo, Ireland, Innisfree has a deep fascination for the poet who visited this place time and again during his young days. The title makes us curious about the dreamy and picturesque place and we get anxious to know what the poet has to say about it.

Summary:

The Lake Isle of Innisfree is a beautiful lyric by W.13 Yeats. In this poem, the poet says that he is fed up with his present life. He will go to Innisfree, the land of his childhood. He will make there a small cabin with mud and wood. He will grow bean plants and have a beehive and live there alone.

The poet says that he will have complete peace of mind at Innisfree land. the lie will enjoy the sweet weather of the morning time. Innisfree land glimmers at midnight becomes purple at noon and full of small sparrows in the evening. The poet says that he will go there forever and enjoy the beauty of nature all through his life. He will hear the lapping sound of the lake’s water and he will hear this sound in the deep heart’s core.

MESSAGE

The poem conveys the message that a simple life amidst nature brings uninterrupted peace and joy. A life of material comforts offered by cities is marred by noise, pollution, and crowds while the life offered by nature is in harmony with the soul. Nature has magical qualities and offers an ideal way of living life.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1. How does the poet capture the sights and sounds of the Lake Isle of Innisfree?

Ans:-The poet, W.B. Yeats, had spent many summers during his childhood on the Lake Isle of Innisfree. His memories are so vivid that the sights and sounds seem to have left an indelible impression on his mind. He beautifully portrays the vast, open stretch of land with a very tranquil environment prevailing from morning till evening. The midnight is aglow with the glimmering of the moon and the stars. The noons are bright with a purplish light. In the evening, the linnets, fluttering their wings in flight make a very captivating sight.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree echoes with the alluring, soothing music of the insects, birds and waves. The bees sing loudly and the linnets make the evenings energetic with their music. Moreover, there is soft music of the waves striking gently against the shore day and night. Thus, the sights and sounds described by the poet make the island an enthralling and alluring place.

Q2. How does the poet contrast city life with life in natural surroundings?

Ans:- Although the poet does not describe the city life in detail, his obsession to go to the beautiful island full of pleasing sights and sounds makes it clear that he wants to leave the noisy life in the city and lead a simple life. The contrast between the crowded cities and the calm, natural surroundings of Innisfree justifies his desire.

The description of green glades and pastures, along with birds and insects singing on Innisfree stand in contrast to the dull looking roadways and pavements that are full of vehicles and people. This contrast hints at the noise pollution and congestion in cities.

Further, the picture of the island surrounded by the calm water of the lake and its gentle waves present a beautiful sight. In contrast, people in cities are lost in a race of accumulating material possessions. The fewer needs of people living close to nature indicate greater contentment as compared to the city dwellers’ never-ending chase of wealth and material possessions. The poet’s urge to return to natural surroundings for a peaceful life hints at the problems and restlessness of people in cities.

Thus, the poet contrasts every aspect of city life with the life in natural surroundings that are full of pleasure, contentment and peace.

Q3. What ideas do you form the personality of the poet from the poem?

Discuss the character of the speaker in the poem.

Which values of life do the poet support?

Ans:-The poet W. B. Yeats who himself is the speaker in “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” gives us a peep into his mind and soul. His desire to return to a peaceful, quiet, and natural place, away from the bustle of urban life, brings forth the positive values that govern his life. In the poem, he emerges as a peace-loving fellow who is sick of the hectic, restless, noisy and materialistic life of the cities.

He emerges as a profound lover of natural beauty and tranquillity. His strong nostalgia for the beautiful sights and sounds on the Lake Isle and his desire to lead a simple life of unbroken solitude and peace on the island reveal the simplicity of his heart and mind.

The poet is endowed with profound imagination and sensitive observation. With very keen senses, he sees, observes and presents the beauty of the island in the morning, in the noontime, in the evening, and even in the midnight. He can hear the sounds of the bees, the cricket, the linnet, and the sea-waves. He can visualize the tranquil glade, the glimmering light of the midnight and the purple glow of the afternoon. He can also hear the loud, unpleasant sounds of the traffic in cities and contrast it with the captivating and soothing music of the waves.

Further, the poet lacks a materialistic attitude towards life. He wants to evade the hectic activities of the materialistic life of the cities and live in a small cabin of clay and wattles. He wants to have only enough to fulfil the basic needs of life.

Thus, the poet comes forth as a person with a profound imagination, minute observation, strong memories and a deep love for nature. He is inspired by the values of contentment and harmony.

Q4. How can we make our lives enjoyable? Discuss with reference to the poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”.

Ans:-The world is full of beauty and pleasures. It has a rich feast for our eyes, ears, noses and tongue. God has provided us with beautiful sights and sounds. But it is regrettable that we have only added misery into our lives by being blind to the beauties of the world. We have become much too materialistic and are always lost in a race for more and more riches. We do not have time to enjoy calmly the beauties of nature. We have even spoilt natural surroundings in the name of development. As William Wordsworth beautifully wrote: “The world is too much with us”; we have cut off our bond with nature.

However, we may enjoy a tranquil life if we check our desires. We must realize that contentment is a source of real happiness. We must curtail our greed, jealousy and hatred. A life of simple needs, near the beautiful surroundings of nature away from the madding crowd of cities can give us soothing delights.

Love for nature, faith in God, and affection for fellow human beings can restore the peace of our minds. We should develop a keen sense to perceive beauty all around and spare time to enjoy these beauties. The soft feelings of pity, sympathy, consideration, kindness, and affection can overpower all the sorrows of life and make life thrilling and pleasant.

Q5. The Isle of Innisfree is both a place and the poet’s state of mind. Discuss. (Textual)

Ans:-The Isle of Innisfree is a tiny uninhabited island within the Lake Lough Gill in County Sligo in northwestern Ireland. The poet, William Butler Yeats, had spent his summers over here when he was a young boy. The calm, quiet, soothing environment of this Isle impressed him so much that he developed a spiritual kinship with this place. He can now hear voices calling within himself just as he heard the sounds of nature in Innisfree. The existence of Innisfree as the poet’s state of mind is as true as the real Innisfree. The images of this place haunt the poet in such a manner that he can visualize everything not in his mind but in his heart. The real place has given him such beautiful memories that he cherishes them even when he is amidst the roadways and pavements of a city. His desire to escape to Innisfree is so strong that his thoughts are overpowered by it. Thus, the poet’s state of mind itself Innisfree which stands as a symbol of peaceful existence amidst nature.

Q6. Suppose you are the poet W.B. Yeats and have reached your dreamland – the Isle of Innisfree. Write a diary entry in about 150 words expressing your real experiences and emotions.

In your diary entry, you should say

how you felt immediately as you landed on the Isle

what sights and sounds you experienced there

what effect they had on you

Ans:-

(Day and Date) (Time)

Dear Diary

I am extremely delighted that my dream of coming back to the Isle of Innisfree has been fulfilled. I have actually reached this idyllic world far away from the disturbing and restless life of London. My first glimpse of the island was extremely fulfilling. As I landed on the green, grassy place, I inhaled the fragrant, refreshing air. I felt as if I were in some fairyland. I ran about enjoying the sight of dense green trees and then sat down to bask in the brilliant sunlight. The rustling of the leaves, the chirping of the birds and the beautiful hues of flowers left me spellbound. I heard the soft music of the waves which, reflecting the sunlight, looked extremely beautiful as they hit the shore and made ripples. I had a nap on the open ridge. In the evening, the linnets, fluttering their wings in the sky, were a breathtaking sight. From under a rock, some crickets were singing. Tonight, I will sleep under the stars and tomorrow I’ll build a cottage for myself.

Everything on this island seems to be heavenly. Every moment spent here is a blessing. After coming here I have realised that the race for money can never give me any pleasure. The environment here is full of contentment and happiness. I wish I had come here earlier. But better late than never!

(W. B.)

[QUICK REVIEW ]

1. What kind of land is Innisfree?

(A) stormy and dusty (B) peaceful and loving

Ans. (B) peaceful and loving

2. Who else will live on Innisfree with the poet?

(A) his mother (B) his father

Ans. (D) he will live alone

3. What thing will the poet not do on the Innisfree land?

(A) build a restaurant (B) build a small cabin

Ans. (A) build a restaurant

4. With what will the poet make his house?

(A) bricks and cement (B) clay and wattles

Ans. (B) clay and wattles

5. Where will the poet have peace?

(A) in his home (B) in heaven

Ans. (C) in Innisfree land

6. When do the crickets sing?

(A) in the morning (B) in the evening

Ans. (A) in the morning

7. What does the poet see in Innisfree land?

(A) glimmering midnight (B) purple noon

Ans. (D) all the options are correct

8. How long the poet will live at the Lake Isle of Innisfree?

(A) forever (B) for a night and day

Ans. (A) forever

9. What does the poet hear at Innisfree Island?

(A) the sound of raindrops (B) the noise of the wind

Ans. (C) the lapping low sounds of the lake water

10. How does the poet find Innisfree Island?

(A) simple, natural place (B) full of beauty

Ans. (D) all options are correct

11. Select the name of the poet of the poem ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’.

(A) Robert Frost (B) Subramania Bharati

(D) W.B. Yeats (C) Coates Kinney

Ans. (D) W.B. Yeats

SUMMARY IN HINDI

“इनिसफ्री का झील टापू डब्ल्यू ० बी ० यीट्स द्भारा रचित एक सुंदर गीत है । इस कविता में कवि कहता है कि वह अपने वर्तमान जीवन से तंग आ चुका है । वह अपने बचपन के स्थान इनिसफ्री में जाएगा । वह वहॉ जाकर गारे और लकड़ी से एक छोटा सा कमरा बनाएगा । वह वहाँ सेम के पौधे उगाएगा और मधुमक्खियों के छत्ते को बनवाएगा तथा वहाँ पर अकेला रहना चाहेगा ।

कवि कहता है कि इनिसफ्री में उसे पूर्ण मानसिक शांति की प्राप्ति होगी । वह वहाँ पर प्रात: काल के मधुर मौसम का आनंद लेगा । इनिसफ्री क्षेत्र मध्यरात्रि के समय टिमटिमाता है, दोपहर को इसका रंग बेंगनी-सा लगता है तथा शाम के समय छोटी –छोटी चिडियों से भर उठता है । कवि कहता हैं कि वह हमेशा के लिए वहाँ चला जाएगा और जीवन पर्यंत प्रकृति की सुंदरता का आनंद प्राप्त करेगा । वह झील के पानी की छम-छम करती आवाजों को सुनेगा और इन आवाजों को तो वह ह्रदय की गहराइयों से सुनेगा ।

Extra Questions and Answers

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct answer.

1.Name the poet of The Lake Isle of Innisfree’.

(A) James Kirkup.

(B) Robert Frost.

(D) Phoebe Cary.

2. What is the best thing about Innisfree?

(A) It is a big modem city.

(B) It is a place of many big industries.

(D) It is a place of great natural beauty.

3. Where does the poet want to go?

(A) To London.

(B) To Paris.

(D) To Switzerland.

4. Where will he stay there?

(A) At a friend’s house

(B) At a hotel.

(D) In a small cabin that he will build with his own hands.

5. What does the poet hope to get there?

(A) Peace.

(B) Wealth.

(D) Name and fame.

6. What kind of music will he get to hear?

(A) The humming of bees.

(B) The song of the cricket.

(D) Neither A nor B.

7. What beautiful sight will he get to see there?

(A) The glimmer of midnight stars.

(B) The linnets flying about in the evening.

(D) All the above.

8. Where is the poet at the time of the writing of the poem?

(A) In London.

(B) In Paris.

(D) In Innisfree.

9. What does the poet hear night and day in the core of his heart?

(A) The sound of the lake water lapping against the shore of Innisfree.

(B) The cries of his children telling him to come back home.

(D) The cries of birds and animals to come and live with them in the forest.

Hints : 1.C 2.D 3.C 4.D 5.A 6.C 7.D 8.A 9. A.

COMPREHENSION QF STANZAS

STANZA 1

I will arise and go now,

and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there,

of day and wattles made :

Nine bean-rows will I have there,

a hive for the honeybee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

हिंदी अनुवाद – कवि कहता है कि अब वह उठकर इनिसफ्री द्वीप पर जाएगा और वहाँ जाकर मिट्टी और मोड़दार छड़ों से एक छोटा –सा कक्ष बनाएगा । सेम के नौ पौधों की श्रंखला और मधुमक्खियों का एक छत्ता वहाँ होगा और उस खुले स्थान पर मधुमक्खियों के शोर के बीच वह अकेला वहाँ रहेगा ।

Questions :

(i) Name the poem and the poet.

(ii) Where does the poet wish to go?

(iii) What sort of house will the poet build there?

(iv) What will the poet do for the honeybee?

(v) Who else will live with the poet there?

Answers :

(i) The name of the poem is `The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ and the name of the poet is ‘William Butler Yeats’.

(ii) He wishes to go to Innisfree Island.

(iii) He will build a house of clay and wood.

(iv) He will make a hive for them.

(v) He will live there all alone.

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;

Their midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evenings full of the linnet’s wings.

हिंदी अनुवाद – और मैं वहाँ चैन से रहूँगा , क्योंकि शांति सुबह के समय वायु के पर्दे से फूलों के बीच में जहाँ झींगुर गाते हैं , ओंस की बूँदों के रूप में गिरती है l वहाँ आधी रात के समय में टिमटिमाना लगा रहता है और दोपहर को बैंगनी रंग की चनक होती है और शाम को आसमान गाने वाली छोटी चिड़ियों से भरा होता है l

Questions :

(i) Who does ‘I’ refer to in the first line?

(ii) What will the speaker have there?

(iii) What is the special feature of that land at midnight?

(iv) How is the evening at that land?

(v) What land is the speaker talking about?

Answers :

(i) ‘I’ refers to the poet.

(ii) He will have peace of mind there.

(iii) That land glimmers’ at midnight.

(iv) The evenings of that land are MI of small birds.

(v) The speaker is talking about ‘Innisfree’ island.

STANZA 3

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.

हिंदी अनुवाद– मैं अभी उठकर हमेशा के लिए जाता हूँ I मैं दिन – रात वहीँ रहूँगा और झील के पानी के तट के साथ होने वाली छप – छप की आवाज को सुनूंगा I जब मैं कहीं पर भी सड़क के किनारे या पगडंडी पर खड़ा होता हूँ तो मुझे ह्रदय की गहराइयों से यहीं आवाजें आती रहेंगी I

Questions :

(i) Where will the poet go?

(ii) For how long time will the poet go there?

(iii) What will the poet hear?

(iv) How the poet will hear this sound?

(v) Name the poet.

Answers :

(i) The poet will go to Innisfree Island.

(ii) He will go there forever.

(iii) The poet will hear the lapping sound of the water against the shore.

(iv) The poet will hear this sound through the very core of his heart.

(iv) W.B. Yeats.

Additional Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Where had the poet, W.B. Yeats, spent his childhood?

Ans. The poet had spent his childhood at Innisfree Island.

2. Where does W.B. Yeats wish to go?

Ans. He wishes to go to Innisfree Island.

3. What sort of a house will Yeats build at Innisfree?

Ans. He will build there a house of clay and wood.

4. What will Yeats do for the honeybee?

Ans. He will make a hive for them.

5. Which trees will the poet grow at Innisfree?

Ans. He will grow bean trees at Innisfree.

Who else will live at Innisfree with the poet?

Ans. He will live there all alone.

7. What happens to the Innisfree Island at midnight?

Ans. The whole island glimmers at midnight.

8. What do the crickets do?

Ans. They sing at midnight.

9. What preview does the noon of Innisfree Island present?

Ans. The noon of Innisfree Island presents a purple glow preview.

10. What does the poet hear at Innisfree?

Ans. He hears the pleasing noise of the bees in the orchard of Innisfree Island.

11. What does the poet see in the evening at Innisfree?

Ans. He sees that the sky of Innisfree Island is filled with small singing birds.

12. Who is the poet of the poem ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’?

Ans. W.B. Yeats.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1. Where does the poet want to go and why?

Ans:-The poet wants to go to the solitary and silent Isle of Innisfree in the Lake Lough Gill of his native country, Ireland. He wants to go there because he is fed up with the restless, noisy world of cities and feels strongly nostalgic about the life on the island which, by contrast, will be a life of quietness and pleasure.

Q2. What kind of a life does the poet want to lead on the Lake Isle?

What three things does the poet want to do when he goes back to Innisfree?

Ans:-The poet wants to lead a life of serenity and contentment, away from the bustle and loudness of urban life. He longs for living in a simple cabin made of clay and sticks. A small piece of land with a few bean-rows and some honey fresh from the bee-hive will be enough to satisfy his needs.

Q3. What kind of music will the poet enjoy on the Lake Isle of Innisfree?

Ans:-On the Isle of Innisfree, the poet will enjoy the loud music of the bees and the mild music of the waves striking against the shore.

Q4. How does the poet describe the mornings on the lonely island?

Ans:-The poet describes the mornings on the lonely island to be very peaceful and quiet. The atmosphere of the morning is hazy with fog or mist. Out of the hazy heavens, peace comes on the land falling softly and noiselessly.

Q5. What does the poet imply by “….from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings.

Ans:-By this expression, the poet implies that the span of time from morning to evening is full of peace on the Lake Isle of Innisfree. Here, quietness reigns supreme. The singing of the cricket adds to the music of nature and can be enjoyed on this island.

Q6. How does the poet describe the midnight and noon on the island?

Ans:-Both the midnight and the noon on the island are visualized by the poet to be very bright with only different hues of brilliance – the twinkling light of the moon and the stars in the midnight and the bright purple shine in the noon.

Q7. What does the poet dream of enjoying in the evenings?

Ans:-The poet dreams of enjoying the songs of the linnets and the sound of the flapping of their wings as they fly back to their nests. He also hopes to enjoy the song of the cricket in the peaceful surroundings.

Q8. What is it that fascinates the poet day and night?

Ans:-Day and night the poet is fascinated by the gentle and pleasant sound of the waves lapping against the shore. He hears this delightful music in his imagination.

Q9. Why does the poet hear the music of the waves standing on the roadway?

Ans:-The poet hears the music of the waves standing on the roadway because their gentle and soothing sound is recalled involuntarily by his mind as a defence against the deafening, unpleasant and jarring sounds of the traffic that have a sickening impact on him.

Q10. What are the roadways and the pavements a symbol of?

Ans:-The roadways and the pavements are a symbol of the urban, noisy, and crowded places like London where the poet lived. They stand in contrast to the peaceful, soothing and colourful nature found back home on the Lake Isle of Innisfree.

Q11. Why is the music on the island made by the waves in the lake low?

Ans:-The music made by the waves of the lake is low and gentle because it is a peaceful lake and the waves are not very high. These waves hit against the shore very lightly producing a piece of mild music.

Q12. What do the “low sounds” emphasize the atmosphere on the Isle of Innisfree?

Ans:-The low sounds emphasize the quiet, placid waves of the lake which strike against the shore and produce a piece of mild music. The impression of a peaceful and calm atmosphere of the Isle is enhanced by these sounds. Besides, they present a stark contrast to the unpleasant sounds in the cities.

Q13. What pictures do the words expressing sights and sounds, as used by the poet, create in your mind?

Ans:-The poet uses ‘bee-loud glade’, ‘evenings full of linnet’s wing’, and ‘lake water lapping with low sound to present the sights and sounds on Innisfree. These words evoke the pictures of a wide and open natural place that is full of beautiful sights, smells, colours and music.

Q14. Why does the poet repeat “I will arise and go now”?

Ans:-The repetition of “I will arise and go now” emphasizes that the poet is extremely keen on abandoning the city and leave for the quiet, idyllic atmosphere of the Lake Isle. The use of ‘arise’ and ‘go’ reveal the intensity of his longing to escape from the restlessness and noise of the cities and reach the harmony and serenity of the world of nature available on the Lake Isle of Innisfree.

Q15. What does the poet hear in the deep “heart’s core”? What is his reaction to it?

Ans:-The poet hears the sweet and gentle music made by the placid waves of the lake striking softly against the shore of the island. This music is so soft and powerful that the poet hears it in the core of his heart. It triggers in him a keen desire to go to the island of Innisfree and enjoy this melody amidst a harmonious environment.