4. Explanation of stanza 1 of W. B. Yeats's "The Lake Isle of Innisfree"

Explanation:

 

The speaker begins the poem by announcing his intentions to the reader, stating that he will "arise and go now" to the isle of Innisfree.

 

If you observe, you would realise that the word "go" is used twice in the first line. This is to emphasise the importance of the speaker's desire to go to Innisfree. The speaker has set his mind on his journey to Innisfree.

The poem’s second line gives more information about what he plans to do when he arrives at Innisfree. He intends to build himself a small cabin using clay and wattles. The line reveals the speaker's intention to live a minimal life. What he desires most is to live amid nature. This is also one of the major themes of the poem.

 

The speaker further states that he dreams of having nine rows of bean plants and a hive for honeybees at his cabin in Innisfree.

 

The speaker is particular about having nine bean-rows. This could be an allusion to the nine fruits of the holy spirit, namely love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

 

 

Also, speaking of the honeybee, there could be yet another allusion. Bee is a symbol of devotion and selflessness. The aspect of devotion could be seen in the way they revere their queen. On the other hand, honeybees work not merely for themselves. As St. John Chrysostom wrote, “The bee is more honoured than other animals, not because she labours, but because she labours for others".** Moreover, beekeeping is an ancient Catholic tradition, and hives were frequently kept on monastery grounds to provide honey for medicinal, food, and wax purposes.

Hence, through beekeeping, the speaker could be desiring a life that is selfless, devoted, and, at the same time, satisfies just the primary needs of a human, namely, food, livelihood, and medicine.

 

As we come to the final line of the first stanza, we are told that the speaker wants to live alone in an area filled with the sound of bees. It is ironic because bees survive in a company while the speaker desires to live alone. However, what is evident through the first stanza is that the speaker desires to live a simple life in accordance with nature.