The Lake Isle of Innisfree
W.B. Yeats
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 honey bee
And live alone in the bee loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings. I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear 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.
Theme: “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” revolves around the speaker’s longing for peace, solitude, and a return to nature. The poem expresses a deep desire to escape the noise and stress of urban life and find tranquility in the natural beauty of Innisfree, where the speaker imagines living a simple and peaceful life. Ultimately, it highlights the restorative power of nature, as the speaker’s connection to the serene landscape of Innisfree remains vivid in his heart, even when he is far away.
Summary: W.B. Yeats expresses a deep longing to escape the noise and bustle of city life and retreat to the peaceful, natural setting of Innisfree. The speaker envisions building a small cabin, growing beans, and keeping bees while surrounded by the serene sounds of nature. He imagines finding peace in the simple, rhythmic beauty of the landscape, where the sounds of the lake, birds, and crickets create a calming atmosphere. Although he remains in the city, the memory and dream of Innisfree stay with him, echoing in his “deep heart’s core.”
Theme : The theme of the poem is the poet’s intention to go beyond the sorrows and chaos of daily life. He imagines a world of absolute peace. Its name is Innisfree. It is an island with all allurements of life. Sweet birds sing and the bees hum. The murmuring of the stream will keep the poet awake. On the other hand city life is full of grey troubles. Hence, he intends to make a flight to the lake Isle of lnnisfree. It will provide him with absolute happiness.
Paraphrasing
1. "I sit on one of the dives On Fifty-second Street"Paraphrase: The speaker is sitting in a bar, a place that is likely shabby or low-quality, located on Fifty-second Street, a specific area in a city. The setting suggests an ordinary, almost bleak environment, emphasizing the speaker’s mood.
2. "Uncertain and afraid As the clever hopes expire."Paraphrase: The speaker feels both uncertain and fearful, as if all their clever, optimistic hopes are fading away or dying out. This reflects the growing anxiety in the world as events take a darker turn, particularly with the impending war.
3. "Of a low dishonest decade:"Paraphrase: The speaker refers to the decade as being characterized by dishonesty and moral degradation. It suggests that the 1930s, leading up to the start of World War II, was a time of corruption, failure, and deceitful actions, whether by individuals or nations.
4. "Waves of anger and fear Circulate over the bright And darkened lands of the earth,"Paraphrase: The speaker describes how emotions of anger and fear are spreading across the world, affecting both prosperous (bright) and troubled (darkened) regions. This suggests the global nature of anxiety and conflict, as these emotions are not confined to one place or group.
5. "Obsessing our private lives;"Paraphrase: The speaker explains that these emotions (anger and fear) are not just confined to the public sphere or political events, but are infiltrating personal lives. People’s private thoughts, relationships, and actions are being deeply influenced and overshadowed by the global turmoil.
6. "The unmentionable odour of death Offends the September night."Paraphrase: The speaker alludes to the unavoidable presence of death and destruction, which is so pervasive that it corrupts the atmosphere of the night. The "unmentionable odour" suggests that death is something unspeakable yet unavoidable, and it taints the peacefulness of September's evening.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the speaker doing at the beginning of the poem?
Answer: The speaker is sitting in a dive bar on Fifty-second Street, feeling uncertain and afraid as the world faces a looming crisis, symbolizing the sense of unease and anxiety that defines the era leading up to World War II.
2. What does the phrase “the clever hopes expire” mean in the context of the poem?Answer: It means that the optimistic, idealistic hopes for a better future are fading away. As the tensions of the world rise, those who once believed in progress and peace are now witnessing the death of such hopes, replaced by fear and uncertainty.
3. How does the speaker describe the decade leading up to 1939?Answer: The speaker describes it as a "low dishonest decade," implying that the years before World War II were marked by moral decay, corruption, and dishonesty, both in the actions of individuals and in the political climate of the time.
4. What emotions does the speaker say are circulating over the world?
Answer: The speaker says that waves of anger and fear are circulating across both the bright (prosperous) and darkened (troubled) lands of the earth, reflecting the global anxiety and tension that was building up in the lead-up to the war.
5. How do anger and fear affect people's lives according to the poem?
Answer: Anger and fear are described as obsessing and dominating people's private lives. The personal lives of individuals are overwhelmed by these emotions, showing how external global conflicts infiltrate the personal sphere and affect everyday existence.
6. What is meant by "the unmentionable odour of death"?
Answer: The "unmentionable odour of death" refers to the inevitable and inescapable presence of destruction and mortality that looms over the world. It is something that cannot be spoken of directly, yet it fills the atmosphere, symbolizing the devastating impact of war and violence.
7. How does the "odour of death" affect the night in the poem?
Answer: The "odour of death" makes the September night "offensive," meaning it disturbs and taints the natural peace of the evening. Instead of a calm, serene night, it becomes unsettling, symbolizing how the shadow of war has permeated every aspect of life.
8. What is the overall tone of the poem?
Answer: The tone of the poem is somber, anxious, and reflective. It conveys a sense of impending doom and the moral decay of the era, highlighting the fear, anger, and helplessness that people were experiencing as World War II began.
9. Why does Auden use the specific date, September 1, 1939, in the title?
Answer: Auden uses the date September 1, 1939, because it marks the beginning of World War II, a pivotal moment in history. The poem reflects on the global anxiety and fear surrounding this event and sets the emotional and political context for the speaker’s reflections.
10. What is the main theme of the poem?
Answer: The main theme of the poem is the global fear, anger, and uncertainty that accompanied the start of World War II. It explores the impact of war on personal lives, the loss of hope, and the pervasive presence of death, while also capturing the moral and emotional decay of the time.
Multiple-choice questions based on the text:
1. What is the speaker doing at the beginning of the poem?
A) Walking through a busy street
B) Sitting in a dive bar on Fifty-second Street
C) Writing a letter
D) Reading the newspaper
Answer: B) Sitting in a dive bar on Fifty-second Street
2. What does the phrase “clever hopes expire” suggest?
A) Hopes for a better future are fading
B) The clever people are disappearing
C) Hopes are becoming stronger
D) People are becoming more hopeful
Answer: A) Hopes for a better future are fading
3. How does the speaker describe the decade before 1939?
A) A decade of peace
B) A decade of prosperity
C) A low and dishonest decade
D) A decade of progress
Answer: C) A low and dishonest decade
4. What emotions are circulating over the earth, according to the poem?
A) Happiness and joy
B) Anger and fear
C) Peace and love
D) Indifference and calm
Answer: B) Anger and fear
5. What does the speaker mean by "obsessing our private lives"?
A) External conflicts are not affecting personal lives
B) Personal lives are overwhelmed by global emotions
C) People are indifferent to global events
D) People are finding joy in their private lives
Answer: B) Personal lives are overwhelmed by global emotions
6. What does the “unmentionable odour of death” symbolize?
A) The scent of war
B) The presence of destruction and mortality
C) The beauty of nature
D) The peacefulness of the night
Answer: B) The presence of destruction and mortality
7. How does the night feel due to the “odour of death”?
A) Peaceful and calm
B) Offensive and unsettling
C) Bright and cheerful
D) Quiet and serene
Answer: B) Offensive and unsettling
8. What is the tone of the poem?
A) Optimistic and hopeful
B) Somber and anxious
C) Joyful and celebratory
D) Lighthearted and carefree
Answer: B) Somber and anxious
9. Why does Auden mention the specific date, September 1, 1939, in the title?
A) It marks the start of World War I
B) It is the speaker’s birthday
C) It marks the beginning of World War II
D) It is the day the speaker wrote the poem
Answer: C) It marks the beginning of World War II
10. What is the main theme of the poem?
A) The beauty of nature
B) The fear and uncertainty before World War II
C) The joy of living in the 1930s
D) The excitement of global conflict
Answer: B) The fear and uncertainty before World War II
Summary of From September 1, 1939 by W. H. Auden:
In From September 1, 1939, W. H. Auden paints a bleak and unsettling picture of the world as World War II is about to begin. The speaker, feeling uncertain and afraid, sits in a bar on Fifty-second Street, reflecting on the global turmoil. He notes that clever hopes and idealistic visions for a better future have all but disappeared, giving way to a decade of dishonesty, corruption, and fear. Waves of anger and fear are sweeping across the earth, affecting both prosperous and troubled regions, and these emotions are starting to take over people's private lives.
Auden describes an "unmentionable odour of death," which symbolizes the looming presence of violence and destruction. The speaker conveys that death is an unavoidable reality of the time, and it taints the atmosphere of the night, making it offensive. The poem reflects the speaker's feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and the global moral decay as war and conflict threaten to engulf the world.
Throughout the poem, Auden portrays a sense of impending doom, expressing how personal and political lives are becoming inseparable in the face of global conflict. The title's specific reference to September 1, 1939, marks the day Germany invaded Poland, signaling the official start of World War II.
Theme:
The theme of From September 1, 1939 is the anxiety, fear, and uncertainty that gripped the world as World War II began. The poem highlights the moral and emotional decay of the time, reflecting how global events, particularly the impending war, overshadow both public and private lives. Auden explores the loss of hope, the presence of death, and the overwhelming sense of doom in the face of global conflict.
Bangla Translation (Summary)
ডব্লিউ. এইচ. অডেনের লেখা "১ সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৯৩৯" এর সারাংশ:
ডব্লিউ. এইচ. অডেন "১ সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৯৩৯" -এ, ডব্লিউ. এইচ. অডেন দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধ শুরু হতে চলেছে বলে বিশ্বের এক বিষণ্ণ ও অস্থির চিত্র এঁকেছেন। বক্তা অনিশ্চিত ও ভীত বোধ করে পঞ্চাশ-সেকেন্ড স্ট্রিটের একটি বারে বসে বিশ্বব্যাপী অস্থিরতার কথা ভাবছেন। তিনি উল্লেখ করেছেন যে উন্নত ভবিষ্যতের জন্য চতুর আশা এবং আদর্শবাদী দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি প্রায় অদৃশ্য হয়ে গেছে, যা এক দশকের অসততা, দুর্নীতি এবং ভয়ের পথ তৈরি করেছে। পৃথিবী জুড়ে ক্রোধ ও ভয়ের ঢেউ বয়ে যাচ্ছে, যা সমৃদ্ধ ও অস্থির উভয় অঞ্চলকেই প্রভাবিত করছে এবং এই আবেগগুলি মানুষের ব্যক্তিগত জীবনকে দখল করতে শুরু করেছে।
অডেন "মৃত্যুর এক অনির্দিষ্ট গন্ধ" বর্ণনা করেছেন, যা সহিংসতা এবং ধ্বংসের আসন্ন উপস্থিতির প্রতীক। বক্তা প্রকাশ করেছেন যে মৃত্যু সেই সময়ের একটি অনিবার্য বাস্তবতা, এবং এটি রাতের পরিবেশকে কলুষিত করে, এটিকে আক্রমণাত্মক করে তোলে। কবিতাটি বক্তার হতাশা, উদ্বেগ এবং বিশ্বব্যাপী নৈতিক অবক্ষয়ের অনুভূতি প্রতিফলিত করে কারণ যুদ্ধ এবং সংঘাত বিশ্বকে গ্রাস করার হুমকি দিচ্ছে।
কবিতা জুড়ে, অডেন আসন্ন ধ্বংসের অনুভূতি চিত্রিত করেছেন, বিশ্বব্যাপী সংঘাতের মুখে ব্যক্তিগত এবং রাজনৈতিক জীবন কীভাবে অবিচ্ছেদ্য হয়ে উঠছে তা প্রকাশ করেছেন। শিরোনামের নির্দিষ্ট উল্লেখটি ১ সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৯৩৯ তারিখকে চিহ্নিত করে, যেদিন জার্মানি পোল্যান্ড আক্রমণ করেছিল, দ্বিতীয় বিশ্বযুদ্ধের আনুষ্ঠানিক সূচনার ইঙ্গিত দেয়।
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Vocabulary words from From September 1, 1939 by W. H. Auden with their meanings in English and Bangla:
Dive
English: A low, shabby, or disreputable place, often referring to a bar.
Bangla: খারাপ বা অপরিচ্ছন্ন স্থান, সাধারণত বার হিসাবে ব্যবহৃত।
Uncertain
English: Not sure or confident about something.
Bangla: অনিশ্চিত, সন্দিহান।
Afraid
English: Feeling fear or anxiety.
Bangla: ভীত, আতঙ্কিত।
Expire
English: To come to an end or die.
Bangla: শেষ হওয়া, মারা যাওয়া।
Dishonest
English: Not truthful or genuine.
Bangla: অসত্য, অনৈতিক।
Waves
English: A continuous flow or movement, often metaphorically referring to emotions or events.
Bangla: তরঙ্গ, আবেগ বা ঘটনাগুলির প্রবাহ।
Obsessing
English: To preoccupy or dominate someone’s thoughts.
Bangla: চিন্তা বা মনোযোগ দখল করা।
Odour
English: A smell, usually a strong or unpleasant one.
Bangla: গন্ধ, সাধারণত তীব্র বা অস্বস্তিকর গন্ধ।
Offends
English: To cause someone to feel upset or disrespected.
Bangla: অপমান করা, বিরক্ত করা।
Bright
English: Full of light; radiant or shining.
Bangla: উজ্জ্বল, আলোকিত।
Darkened
English: Made darker, or less illuminated.
Bangla: অন্ধকারিত, অল্প আলো পড়া।
Lands
English: Territories or regions of the world.
Bangla: অঞ্চল, ভূমি।
Private
English: Belonging to an individual or a specific group, not public.
Bangla: ব্যক্তিগত, গোপন।
Lives
English: The existence of living beings.
Bangla: জীবন, অস্তিত্ব।
Death
English: The end of life.
Bangla: মৃত্যু, জীবন শেষ হওয়া।
Offends
English: To hurt or disrespect.
Bangla: ক্ষতি বা অবমাননা করা।
Night
English: The period of darkness in each twenty-four-hour cycle.
Bangla: রাত, অন্ধকার।
Circulate
English: To move or flow around.
Bangla: সঞ্চালিত হওয়া, চারদিকে ছড়ানো।
Emotions
English: Feelings such as joy, anger, sadness, etc.
Bangla: আবেগ, অনুভূতি।
Moral
English: Relating to principles of right and wrong.
Bangla: নৈতিক, ন্যায়-অন্যায় সম্পর্কিত।
Decay
English: The process of breaking down or deterioration, especially moral or physical.
Bangla: অবক্ষয়, নষ্ট হওয়া।
Evil
English: Wicked or morally wrong.
Bangla: পাপ, খারাপ।
Idealistic
English: Believing in or striving for noble or perfect ideals, often unrealistically.
Bangla: আদর্শবাদী, অসম্ভব বা অবাস্তব লক্ষ্যে বিশ্বাসী।
Taint
English: To damage or harm the quality of something.
Bangla: ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত করা, কলঙ্কিত করা।
Destruction
English: The act of damaging something so that it cannot be repaired.
Bangla: ধ্বংস, ভেঙে ফেলা।
Permeated
English: Spread throughout or saturated with.
Bangla: ছড়িয়ে পড়া, প্রবাহিত হওয়া।
Global
English: Relating to the whole world.
Bangla: বৈশ্বিক, পৃথিবীজুড়ে।
Doom
English: Fate or destiny, especially a bad one.
Bangla: অভিশাপ, খারাপ ভবিষ্যৎ।
Looming
English: Appearing as a shadowy or threatening form.
Bangla: অনিশ্চিত বা ভয়ানকভাবে উপস্থিত হওয়া।
Hopeless
English: Without hope, despairing.
Bangla: নিরাশ, আশা হীন।
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