The poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by William Butler Yates describes the speaker's fond memories of Innisfree, a small island in Ireland that was his childhood refuge. In three stanzas, Yates uses literary devices like repetition, rhyme, and imagery to vividly depict the tranquil natural setting of the island and contrast it with the busy city life he now lives. The summary transports the reader back to Yates' place of peace and tranquility through references to the "hive of the honey-bee", "cricket sings", and "lake water lapping with low sounds." Yates concludes that he will find respite from the "roadway" and "pavements grey"

1. Mischa Shimogaki<br />Dec 2 2010<br />English, Per 4<br />We all look back on our days of innocence – times when we were simply too naïve to understand the complexities of life – and flashback to a certain location; whether it be the playground, an old room or grandma’s kitchen. We reminisce in our minds to relive the feeling of carefree youth. In the poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by William Butler Yates, we are invited into his oasis of calm tranquility, which he seeks in his memories of the island of Innisfree in Sligo, Ireland, his version of a “childhood haunt”. With his intricate technique of literary devices and structure, he weaves a vivid yet hazy atmosphere that he fondly “escapes” to from the hectic city atmosphere of his adult life. <br />In the first stanza, Yates’ discreet use of consonance and assonance creates a lyrical tone, while his thick imagery creates the framework for the poem. Each line of the verse is long, imitating the movement of water on the lake, and the name of the lake Innis”free”, provokes connotations of freedom, escape, and liberation. Yates starts the poem – “I will arise and go now, and go..” – the repetition of “and go” illustrating a hesitant yet instinctive entrance into his mental trip. His use of consonance in “wattles” and “bean-rows”, “loud-glade” has a musical quality, as if he is singing to us, appealing to our auditory senses. His vivid imagery of the scenery such as “hive of the honey-bee” creates an imagery of a sweet and snug abode, while his intermittent rhyme scheme of “Innisfree” and “honey-bee”, “made” and “glade” – which persists through the rest of the poem - brings a unifying structure that strings together the poem as a whole. <br />The second stanza starts off with “And I shall have some peace..”, subtly picking up from the previous stanza and illustrating his natural trail of thoughts. The repetition of “peace” and “dropping” through the first two lines provides an echoing effect, as if the memory is all a lucid dream. The “veils of the morning” creates an imagery of the calm of the sky before the approaching of a rainstorm, evoking serenity and tranquility. The consonance of “glimmer” and “glow” in his portrayal of the sky contributes to the dreamy and alluring imagery of the transitioning atmosphere of Innisfree throughout the day. The silence portrayed by “cricket sings” and “linnet’s wings” is an effective imagery of the quiet ambience fit for a relaxing escape, and the animal references emphasizes the intimate relationship with nature which contrasts to the industrial rush of city life which he further portrays in the third stanza. <br />In the third stanza, he uses alliteration and rhyme to portray the contrasting environments of the Lake and city life, while conveying his emotional attachment to his memories. The alliteration in “lake water lapping with low sounds” produces an onomonopea of the sound of the water, bringing the scenery to life and again appealing to our ears. Contrastingly, his portrayal of “roadway, or on the pavements grey” implies the industrial metropolis that surrounds his adult life – perhaps London or New York - and how he will stop in the hustle and bustle of it, and transport himself back to his memories of the Lake. The rhyme of “roadway” and “pavements grey” imitates the monotonous and repetitive state of life in the city. The last line emphasizes his emotional and spiritual connection with the memory, as he expresses the feeling of hearing it in the “deep heart’s core”. <br />The literary devices that Yates uses to progress the poem allows us to visualize his place of sanctuary and repose; where he temporarily slips away from reality to immerse in the comfort of his memories. His keen ability to stimulate our senses using words is a craft in itself, and the experience that he provides is something that is relatable to anyone; a trip beyond time to an emotional haven, the “childhood haunt” in each of our hearts. <br />