The following questions refer to the reading assignments for W.B. Yeats.
1). Yeats’ poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” uses powerful images of nature to engage the reader’s senses.  Pick three of the following senses and provide one image from the poem for each sensory perception:
a. sight
b. hearing
c. taste
d. touch
e. smell
2).  How does the allusion to “The Prodigal Son” through the lines, “I will arise and go now,” help to provide a theme for “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”?  What does the speaker seem to be saying about his relationship to this place?
3). What does “The Second Coming” imply about state of the world in the 20th century?  Does any of that feel familiar to you in our present situation?  Refer to specific quotes in your response.
4). How does “Sailing to Byzantium” contrast the artistic achievements of humanity to the natural world in which we live?  Why does the speaker prefer art to nature?
5). This is a “freebie” (meaning that if you can’t do it, you will not be penalized) . . . Locate one of Yeats’ poems that has been set to music and performed by a singer (Joni Mitchell performs a version of “The Second Coming” called “Slouching towards Bethlehem,” and folk signer Judy Collins has recorded numerous versions of different Yeats’ poems, including “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” “The Golden Apples of the Sun,” and “The Song of Wandering Aengus,” among others.)  Tell me which poem/song you listened to and what you thought about hearing the poem set to music.