Q2 of 15 Page 54

By now you may have concluded that Innisfree is a temple, natural place, full of beauty and peace.

How does the poet contrast it with where he now stands? (Read at stanza III)

The poet is very much attracted towards the calm and beautiful landscape of Innisfree. He constantly yearns for the peace and tranquility he lived in during the days of his boyhood. The singing of the cricket, the sound of linnet’s wings, the purple glow of the noon and the beauty of the glimmering midnight has had an indelible impact on the poet’s mind. In contrast to the urban setting comprising of the roadways and pavements where the poet now stands, he can still hear and feel the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore deep in his “heart’s core”.


More from this chapter

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2

Einstein became a gifted amateur violinist, maintaining this skill throughout his life.

Letters survive in which they put their affection into words, mixing science with tenderness.


The parts in italics in the above sentences begin with -ing verbs, and are called participle phrases. Participle phrases say something more about the person or thing talked about or the idea expressed by the sentence as a whole.


For Example:


Einstein became a gifted amateur violinist. He maintained this skill throughout his life.


Complete the sentences below by filling in the blanks with suitable participle clauses. The information that has to be used in the phrases is provided as a sentence in brackets.


1. ............... the firefighters finally put out the fire. (They worked around the clock.)


2. She watched the sunset above the mountain........... (She noticed the colors blending softly into one another)


3. The excited horse pawed the ground rapidly, ……………..(While it neighed continually.)


4. ............ I found myself in Bangalore, instead of Benaras. (I had taken the wrong train).


5. ……………… I was desperate to get to the bathroom. (I had not bathed for two days)


6. The stone steps …………. needed to be replaced. (They were worn down).


7. The actor received hundreds of letters from his fans, ………(They asked him to send them his photograph.)

1

What kind of place is Innisfree? Think about.

(i) The three things the poet wants-to do when he would go back there. (Stanza I)


(ii) What he hears and sees there (Stanza II) and its effect on him?


(iii) What he hears in his "heart's core" even when he is far away from Innisfree? (Stanza III)

3

Do you think Innisfree is only a place, or a state of mind? Does the poet actually miss the place of his boyhood days?

1

Look at the words and the poet uses to describe- what he sees and hears at Innisfree.

(i) Bee-loud glade.


(ii) Evenings full of the linnet's wings.


(iii) Lake water lapping with low sounds.


What pictures do these words create in your mind?