Poetry Analysis: The Lake Isle of Innisfree

(a) Essay Plan

Introduction:

• Briefly introduce the poem and its theme of escape to nature.
• State that the essay will explain what happens in the poem and what it reveals about people's desire for peace and simplicity.

Paragraph 1: Yeats' Desire for Nature and Peace

• Topic sentence: Yeats expresses a longing to escape to nature and live a simple life.
• Mention that he wants to live in a small cabin, growing his own food and finding peace.
• Use the quote: "And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow."
• Explain: People, like Yeats, may feel the need to escape busy, stressful lives and find fulfillment in simple, peaceful living.

Paragraph 2: The Contrast with City Life

• Topic sentence: Yeats contrasts nature with the dreariness of the city.
• Mention how the city (London) drains him and feels lifeless.
• Use the quote: "While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey."
• Explain: City life can represent bad memories and emotional exhaustion, while nature symbolizes innocence and peace, especially for artists and thinkers.

Conclusion:

• Summarise that the poem shows people often yearn to escape the pressures of city life and reconnect with nature.
• State that nature provides healing and tranquillity for those overwhelmed by modern life.

(a) Sample Answer

In W.B. Yeats' poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree, the poet expresses his deep longing to escape to the peaceful nature of rural Ireland where he grew up. Through this desire for a simpler life, the poem reveals that people like Yeats often yearn for a break from the stress and noise of city life and a return to nature where they feel more at peace and connected. This response will outline the poem's events and explain what Yeat's poem can tell us about people.

Firstly, Yeats describes his desire to escape to Innisfree, a peaceful island where he can live simply and reconnect with nature. He imagines building a small cabin and tending a garden, where he will be able to find tranquillity. He writes, "And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow." This shows how people, especially those like Yeats, may feel the need to leave their busy, complicated lives behind and return to nature. For many, the simplicity of growing food and living in a quiet place provides a sense of fulfilment and calm.

In contrast, Yeats describes the city as a dreary, lifeless place that drains him. He writes, "While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey," which shows how the dullness of city life, particularly in London, makes him long for the beauty and innocence of the countryside. For people like Yeats, the city can represent bad memories or emotional exhaustion. At the same time, places like Innisfree symbolise a return to innocence and peace, especially for artists and thinkers who crave inspiration.

In conclusion, The Lake Isle of Innisfree reveals that people often feel the need to escape the pressures of modern life and reconnect with nature. Through Yeats' yearning for peace and simplicity, the poem shows how nature can be a source of healing and tranquillity for those overwhelmed by city life.

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(b) Essay Plan

Introduction:

• Briefly introduce Yeats' use of imagery in The Lake Isle of Innisfree to tell a personal story.
• Mention that the essay will explain how the imagery helps communicate Yeats' longing for peace and escape.

Paragraph 1: "I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree."

• Topic sentence: Yeats uses powerful, dramatic imagery to express his desire for action and escape.
• Quote: "I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree."
• Explain: The repetition of "I will arise and go" gives a sense of determination, showing Yeats' personal struggle and his need to leave behind his current life, which relates to the theme of escapism.

Paragraph 2: "A small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made."

• Topic sentence: Yeats uses clear imagery to show his personal fantasy of a simple life.
• Quote: "A small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made."
• Explain: This imagery paints a picture of his ideal escape. It's personal to Yeats, showing his desire to return to a simpler time, which relates to the theme of longing for the past.

Paragraph 3: "I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore."

• Topic sentence: Yeats uses peaceful imagery to create a calming mood.
• Quote: "I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore."
• Explain: The alliteration on the 'l' sound creates a rhythmic, calming scene. This represents Yeats' personal 'happy place,' fitting the theme of escapism.

Conclusion:

• Summarise that Yeats' use of vivid imagery effectively tells his personal story of wanting peace and escape.
• Reinforce how the imagery makes his longing for nature and simplicity clear to the reader.

(b) Sample Answer

In The Lake Isle of Innisfree, W.B. Yeats uses powerful imagery to effectively tell his personal story of longing for escape and peace in nature. Through his vivid descriptions, Yeats allows the reader to feel his desire to leave behind the stresses of life and find solace in a peaceful, natural place. I will explore how Yeats uses imagery to communicate his personal story.

Firstly, Yeats begins the poem with the line, "I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree." This imagery is powerful and dramatic, capturing the theme of the poem. The repetition of "I will arise and go now" gives a strong sense of action, as if Yeats is manifesting his desire to escape. By saying he will "arise", Yeats indicates that he will stop what he is currently doing, which does not suit him, and take action to go somewhere that brings him peace. This image of determination tells Yeats' personal story of struggle, showing how deeply he feels the need to escape.

Secondly, when Yeats writes, "A small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made", the imagery is very clear and allows the reader to picture his ideal escape. This description tells a personal story because it represents Yeats' unique idea of a perfect retreat. While others may imagine a different escape, this specific image of a clay and wattle cabin reflects Yeats' personal fantasy. It also connects to the theme of escapism, as this type of building is not common anymore, and Yeats might be longing to escape to a simpler, more natural way of life.

Finally, Yeats uses the line "I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore" to create a peaceful and quiet mood. The alliteration on the 'l' sound, with "lapping" and "low", gives a rhythmic and calming feel, making the reader almost hear the gentle sounds of nature. This imagery shows Yeats' personal escape, as the peacefulness of the scene represents his happy place, where he finds comfort. It also fits the theme of escapism, as many people have their own version of a peaceful retreat, and Yeats is sharing his with us.

In conclusion, Yeats uses imagery effectively to tell his personal story of wanting to escape from life's pressures and find peace in nature. His evocative descriptions of action, peaceful retreat, and calming sounds allow the reader to feel his longing for a simpler life, making his personal story clear and powerful.