Question

What kind of place is Innisfree? Think about: 

(i) the three things the poet wants to do when he goes back there (stanza I); 

(ii) what he hears and sees there and its effect on him (stanza II); 

(iii) what he hears in his “heart’s core” even when he is far away from Innisfree (stanza III).

Answer 1

(i) The three things the poet wants to do when he goes back there (stanza I):

In the first stanza, the poet expresses his desire to go to Innisfree, where he wants to:

• “Build a small cabin” - The poet wants to live simply and be closer to nature, away from the distractions of the world.
• “Live alone in the bee-loud glade” - He wishes to be in complete solitude, surrounded by the sound of bees, which symbolizes peace and the natural world.
• “Drink from the lake water” - This represents his desire to immerse himself in the natural beauty and purity of the place, seeking physical and emotional nourishment from nature.

(ii) What he hears and sees there and its effect on him (stanza II):

In the second stanza, the poet describes the sights and sounds of Innisfree:

• He hears the “bee-loud glade” and the “linnet’s wings” during evenings. These sounds create a peaceful, serene atmosphere that calms the poet’s mind.
• He sees the “lake water lapping with low sounds,” which further enhances the tranquility of the place, making it a soothing and restorative environment.

The effect on the poet is that these natural sounds and sights fill him with a deep sense of peace and contentment, helping him to escape the stress and noise of the outside world.

(iii) What he hears in his “heart’s core” even when he is far away from Innisfree (stanza III):

In the third stanza, even when the poet is far away from Innisfree, he can still hear its peaceful sounds in his heart. The poet says:

"And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings."

This shows that the memory of Innisfree and its calming influence stays with him, even in his absence. The poet feels that the essence of Innisfree — the peace, the sounds of nature, and the solitude — is embedded in his heart, and it continues to soothe him even when he is far away.