Structure & Poetic Techniques (Junior Cert English): Revision Notes

Structure and Poetic Techniques

Structure

Stanza form:

• The poem is composed of three stanzas of equal length. The first stanza introduces the poet's desire to escape to Innisfree, the second stanza describes the peaceful and serene environment he imagines there, and the third stanza contrasts this idyllic vision with the poet's current life in the noisy city.

Poetic Techniques

1. Repetition: "I will arise and go now" is repeated in the first and third stanzas, emphasising the poet's intense longing and determination to escape to Innisfree. This repetition helps to reinforce the poem's central theme of yearning for peace.

2. Imagery: Yeats uses vivid imagery throughout the poem, such as "a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made" and "midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow." These images help to create a picture of the peaceful and natural environment the poet longs for, making the reader feel the tranquillity of Innisfree.

3. Alliteration: In the line "live alone in the bee-loud glade," the repetition of the 'l' sound in "live" and "alone" adds a musical quality to the poem and draws attention to the peaceful solitude that the poet desires.

4. Assonance: The line "lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore" uses the repetition of the 'a' sound to create a soothing and calm tone, reflecting the peaceful environment that the poet longs to experience at Innisfree.

5. Personification: The poem uses personification in the line "peace comes dropping slow," where peace is described as if it has human qualities. This technique emphasises the slow and gentle way that peace fills the poet's imagined life at Innisfree, enhancing the overall serene mood of the poem.