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CBSE NCERT Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 4 The Lake Isle of Innisfree

Explanation of the Poem

Stanza l

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

Explanation

The poet begins the poem by declaring that he will awaken and go to the island of Innisfree. He equates his city life to sleeping. When he regains consciousness, he will be transplanted from a sedentary (non-adivel) city existence to an active country one. The poet specifically cites two pursuits he wishes to pursue: physical labour, such as constructing a cottage and planting nine rows of beans, and beekeeping. He aspires to live alone in an atmosphere filled with the buzzing sound of bees.

Stanza 2

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.

Explanation

The poet declares in this verse that his existence on the island of Innisfree will be peaceful. He particularly associates tranquillity with the early morning. As daylight approaches, and he awakens to the sound of crickets chirping, peace will come easily to him. He compares the dawn to a veiled lady. This implies that as the Sun rises, dawn lifts her curtain of darkness and ushers in tranquilly to Innisfree’s rural surroundings. Additionally, the poet enjoys midnight, when the stars shine brilliantly in the sky. He particularly enjoys midday and evening, which are filled with the melodic singing of the linnet birds.

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.

Explanation

In this verse, the poet resolves to visit Innisfree immediately since Innisfree is never far from his thoughts.

Throughout the day and night, he can only hear one thing in his mind: the sound of the sea lapping on the coast of the island of Innisfree. He feels this sound deep inside his own heart as he moves through the urban environment of streets and sidewalks. This metropolitan scene lacks the vibrant colours that characterise Innisfree; instead, it seems dull and lifeless.

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