Summary: Poem - When I Set Out For Lyonnesse Notes | Study English Class 8 - Class 8

As a young architect, the poet went to Lyonnesse to supervise the renovation work of the church. The place was 100 miles away. It was winter. The leaves were covered with snow. He was alone and shaky. His only companion was the star-light.

He was unsure what situation he would have to face there during his stay in Lyonnesse. No seer could dare make a forecast. Even the wisest magician could not make guess about future.

But when he returned from that place, he was very happy. His eyes shone with joy. Everybody tried silently to guess the reason of his deep and uncommon happiness.

Notes For the Teacher

• The poem has a clear beginning-middle-end structure. The beginning is ‘setting out’, the middle is ‘sojourn’ and the end is ‘return’.
• Draw children’s attention to appropriate words/phrases/lines that suggest and reinforce each phase of the journey. 
• ‘Lyonnesse’ to be pronounced as lie-an-ness. The last syllable receives the primary stress.
• If feasible and useful, explain the rhyme scheme and its musical effect on the listener.