In “How to Read a Poem,” Edward Hirsch notes that while studying a poem, readers frequently make three incorrect assumptions. I discovered after reading William Butler Yeats’ “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” that I had assumed the poem was straightforward and lacked deeper depth. However, after reading Hirsch’s paper, I realized that this assumption was incorrect. The poem’s simple language and structure can be deceiving, since there are deeper themes at work, such as a desire for isolation and a simpler existence in nature. Overall, reading these poems has taught me the value of not forming preconceptions when approaching a new poem. I was able to better comprehend the speaker’s desire for a simpler existence in nature and the romantic theme present in the poem by paying great attention to the language and imagery used.
2 thoughts on “Dasia Alexander Discussion 13”
Very interesting, I always find myself looking for the deeper meaning in every poem I read. I make the same mistake, but in a different way. Im learning the key is to no assume anything with a poem. I have to read it multiple times to first understand it, then relate to it. It is a wonderful challenge to be able to understand a poem, it almost like a sort of puzzle. My blindspot is my eagerness to to solve it, sometimes the poem is very simple and profound.
Hello Dasia! I totally agree with you that the simple language used in “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by William Butler Yeats can be deceiving. I thought it was just a simple poem about someone wanting to live on a remote island. But after reading Edward Hirsch’s article “How to Read a Poem,” I realized that there’s more to it. I now understand that the poem is about the speaker’s longing for a simpler life in nature, and how it’s important to not judge a poem too quickly.