When I first read W.B. Yeats’ poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” I assumed it was about someone who wants to escape to a remote island and live a peaceful life. However, after reading Edward Hirsch’s article “How to Read a Poem,” I realized that there’s more to the poem.
One of the false assumptions I made was that the poem was only about physical escape from the city. Upon closer inspection of the lines “And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings,” I realized that the speaker is seeking not just physical peace, but also emotional and spiritual peace.
Another false assumption I made was that the repetition of the line “I will arise and go now” was just a way to emphasize the speaker’s desire to leave the city. However, Hirsch points out that repetition in poetry can often have a deeper meaning, such as emphasizing the speaker’s determination to make a change in their life.
3 thoughts on “Tony Ng Wu Discussion 13”
Tony, I appreciate your focus on a poem that has not yet been discussed. Thanks for the good discussion of your assumption and how your understanding of the poem enlarged once you looked more closely at specific lines, realizing that the escape being suggested is more than just a physical one.
I made the same false initial assumption before reading “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” and during the first read, that this poem would be very heavy with imagery describing the landscape of Innisfree. But it is more than, it is also about the freedom the narrator is longing for in Innisfree. I thought listening to the poem by the author also made me look at this poem in a completely different light. You can hear how strongly he needed to be there through the intensity of his voice, for more than just peace it seems like.
I agree with the way you see “The Lake Isle of Innisfree.” The poem’s rich language and emotional depth can make readers feel like they know it. Even though our own experiences and feelings can affect how we understand a poem, it’s important to remember that the poet’s intention and the way the poem is put together also affect how we understand it. In the end, we should try to find a fair reading that honors the poet’s vision while also taking into account how the work affects us personally.