A Poison Tree Questions and Answers
A Poison Tree
In "A Poison Tree," what does "And into my garden stole" literally mean? How did the enemy enter?
"And into my garden stole" literally means that the enemy snuck or crept into the speaker's garden. The enemy entered at night, using the cover of darkness, as indicated by "When the night had veiled...
A Poison Tree
What is the theme of the poem "A Poison Tree"?
Although William Blake's "A Poison Tree" is about anger, the central theme and message is about the suppression of anger. The poem argues that like a tree, anger grows if one suppresses it. The...
A Poison Tree
The symbolism and significance of the apple in "A Poison Tree."
In "A Poison Tree," the apple symbolizes the speaker's growing anger and resentment. The apple's eventual consumption by the speaker's foe represents the destructive consequences of suppressed...
A Poison Tree
What is the rhyme scheme and meter of "A Poison Tree" by William Blake, and how does the meter contribute to its...
"A Poison Tree" by William Blake has an A-A-B-B rhyme scheme. The poem uses trochaic tetrameter, where each foot starts with a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one. This meter contributes...
A Poison Tree
What is a figure of speech in "A Poison Tree" by William Blake?
In "A Poison Tree" by William Blake, a key figure of speech is the metaphor, where anger is compared to a growing tree. The poem explores how suppressed anger, symbolized by the tree, festers and...
A Poison Tree
Analysis of the speaker's attitude and tone in "A Poison Tree" by William Blake
In "A Poison Tree," the speaker's attitude is one of suppressed anger and resentment. The tone shifts from deceptive calmness to a sense of dark satisfaction as the speaker nurtures his wrath,...
A Poison Tree
Moral lessons and values in William Blake's poem "A Poison Tree"
William Blake's poem "A Poison Tree" teaches the moral lesson that suppressing anger can lead to destructive outcomes. The poem illustrates the consequences of not addressing one's emotions and...
A Poison Tree
What is the extended metaphor in the poem "A Poison Tree"?
The extended metaphor in "A Poison Tree" compares anger to a growing plant. The poem illustrates how nurturing anger is like cultivating a plant, leading it to blossom destructively. Additionally,...
A Poison Tree
What is the meaning of the last two lines in "A Poison Tree" by William Blake?
The last two lines of "A Poison Tree" suggest that the speaker's wrath, when bottled up and nurtured, ultimately leads to the death of his foe. Blake uses the metaphor of a poisoned apple to...
A Poison Tree
Comparing elements and suitable poems for "A Poison Tree" by Blake
To compare elements and find suitable poems for "A Poison Tree" by William Blake, consider themes like anger, revenge, and the consequences of suppressed emotions. Suitable poems might include Robert...
A Poison Tree
In "A Poison Tree" by William Blake, does the speaker regret his anger? How do you know?
The speaker in "A Poison Tree" does not clearly express regret for his anger. While his anger towards a friend dissipates when discussed, his suppressed anger towards a foe grows and results in fatal...
A Poison Tree
The use of metaphor and figurative language to describe the speaker's wrath in "A Poison Tree."
In "A Poison Tree," the speaker's wrath is depicted through extended metaphors and figurative language. The wrath is likened to a growing tree, nurtured by deceit and fear, ultimately bearing a...
A Poison Tree
How did discussing his anger with a friend help the speaker in "A Poison Tree"?
Discussing his anger with a friend helped the speaker in "A Poison Tree" by allowing him to release his emotions and maintain the friendship. This open communication resolved his anger, preventing it...
A Poison Tree
In Blake's "A Poison Tree," is the speaker's act of revenge justified?
Blake's message, in my view, is that revenge is not justified, though he doesn't state this directly, and the poem describes only an isolated case without background or elaboration regarding this...
A Poison Tree
Why didn't the speaker reveal his wrath to his foe in "A Poison Tree"?
The speaker in "A Poison Tree" does not reveal his wrath to his foe because he lacks trust and fears his foe might mock or repeat the injury. Additionally, viewing the person as an enemy, the speaker...
A Poison Tree
What does "sunned it with smiles" mean in the poem "A Poison Tree?"
In "A Poison Tree," "sunned it with smiles" means the speaker nurtured his wrath with false smiles. This phrase is part of an extended metaphor comparing the cultivation of anger to the nurturing of...
A Poison Tree
What is the effect of rhyme, rhythm, and metaphor in "A Poison Tree"?
In "A Poison Tree," rhyme, rhythm, and metaphor work together to enhance its themes. The trochaic rhythm creates a jarring, abrupt feel, while the simple AABB rhyme scheme gives a sing-song quality...
A Poison Tree
Discuss the diction of the poem "A Poison Tree" and explain why certain words are well chosen.
The diction in "A Poison Tree" by William Blake is well-chosen for its simplicity and rhythmic quality. Blake uses everyday language, such as "angry" and "friend," making the poem accessible to a...
A Poison Tree
In "A Poison Tree," why did Blake choose an apple instead of another fruit?
Blake chose an apple in "A Poison Tree" for its symbolic and practical qualities. The apple evokes biblical connotations of sin and temptation, as seen in the story of Eden, and its shiny, hard...
A Poison Tree
What Two Ways Of Handling Anger Are Mentioned In The Poem
The poem "A Poison Tree" by William Blake presents two ways of handling anger: communication and suppression. When the speaker is angry with a friend, they resolve the issue through discussion,...
A Poison Tree
What lesson can we learn from "A Poison Tree"?
The lesson from "A Poison Tree" is that unexpressed anger can be destructive. The poem illustrates how discussing anger with a friend can resolve it, but suppressing anger towards an enemy causes it...
A Poison Tree
Explain the following quote from Blake's "A Poison Tree": "In the morning glad I see; My foe outstretched beneath the...
The quote from Blake's "A Poison Tree" illustrates the destructive power of suppressed anger. The speaker's unresolved wrath towards his foe grows into a metaphorical poison tree, ultimately leading...
A Poison Tree
Whose wiles are referenced in the poem “A Poison Tree”?
The wiles referenced in William Blake's poem "A Poison Tree" are those of the speaker, who cunningly manipulates his enemy by pretending that their relationship is amicable. The speaker conceals his...
A Poison Tree
How does William Blake use vivid images in "A Poison Tree" to clarify his message?
In "A Poison Tree," William Blake uses vivid imagery to convey the destructive nature of suppressed anger. The poem likens nurturing anger to growing a tree, illustrating how unspoken wrath is...
A Poison Tree
Who is the persona angry with in "A Poison Tree" by William Blake?
In "A Poison Tree," the persona is angry with both a friend and a foe. The speaker resolves the anger with the friend by communicating, but withholds feelings from the foe, allowing the anger to...
A Poison Tree
The speaker's process of nurturing anger and its consequent growth in "A Poison Tree"
In "A Poison Tree," the speaker nurtures anger by suppressing it and harboring resentment. This silent cultivation causes the anger to grow, eventually manifesting as a metaphorical poison tree that...
A Poison Tree
Symbolism of Night and Morning in "A Poison Tree"
In "A Poison Tree," night and morning symbolize the persistence and growth of the speaker's wrath. The speaker nurtures his anger "night & morning," allowing it to grow like a tree bearing...
A Poison Tree
How does the time period of William Blake reflect in the poem "A Poison Tree"?
William Blake's poem "A Poison Tree" reflects the late 18th-century era, marked by revolutionary changes and industrialization in England. Influenced by the French Revolution and the societal decay...
A Poison Tree
How does allusion add to the meaning of the third and fourth stanzas of "A Poison Tree" and its overall theme?
Allusion in the third and fourth stanzas of "A Poison Tree" enhances meaning by likening the speaker to Satan in the Garden of Eden. Just as Satan took pleasure in corrupting Adam and Eve, the...
A Poison Tree
What repeated words does the poet use in "A Poison Tree" and what differences do they emphasize?
The repetition featured in Blake's poem relates to the process of repressing and holding in anger, as opposed to "coming clean" with one feels. There are two parts to it: When Blake speaks of...
A Poison Tree
Which words in stanza two of "A Poison Tree" liken the speaker's anger to a seed or plant? What symbolizes water and...
In the second stanza of "A Poison Tree," the speaker likens anger to a plant, using words such as "watered" and "sunned" to describe how it grows. The anger is "watered in fears" and "with tears,"...
A Poison Tree
Personal connections and conflicts in the poem "A Poison Tree"
The poem "A Poison Tree" explores personal connections and conflicts through the speaker's experience of nurturing anger. When the speaker communicates his wrath to a friend, the anger dissipates....
A Poison Tree
Does the foe die from poison in "A Poison Tree"?
In "A Poison Tree," the foe's fate is ambiguous. One interpretation suggests the foe dies from the poisoned apple, as indicated by the word "outstretched," implying death. Alternatively,...
A Poison Tree
What caused the speaker's inner feelings and outward behavior in "A Poison Tree"?
The speaker's inner feelings and outward behavior in "A Poison Tree" are driven by how he handles anger. Initially, he openly shares his anger with a friend, which resolves it. However, he conceals...
A Poison Tree
What is the difference between anger and wrath in "A Poison Tree"?
In "A Poison Tree," anger is depicted as a strong feeling of displeasure that can be resolved through communication, as seen when the speaker talks to his friend. Wrath, however, involves a desire...
A Poison Tree
What are the prevailing and substitution meters in William Blake's "A Poison Tree"?
The prevailing meter in "A Poison Tree" by William Blake is trochaic trimeter (three strong syllables followed by one weak one). The only exception is the last line of the poem which ends with a...
A Poison Tree
How is Blake's "A Poison Tree" a parable?
Blake's "A Poison Tree" is a parable that illustrates the dangers of suppressing anger. Through symbolic storytelling, it conveys a moral lesson: expressing anger can resolve it, while harboring it...
A Poison Tree
In William Blake's "A Poison Tree," what does the tree symbolize?
The tree in "A Poison Tree" by William Blake represents the growing anger and malice of the speaker. It is nurtured by the speaker and grows into an apple, which symbolises a harmful act perpetrated...
A Poison Tree
In "A Poison Tree" by William Blake, what does the persona compare himself to?
In "A Poison Tree," the persona compares his anger to a tree, using a metaphor to illustrate how unresolved wrath grows. He likens himself to a gardener who "waters" and "suns" his anger, nurturing...
A Poison Tree
Why did the persona's wrath end when he told his friend about it in "A Poison Tree"?
The persona's wrath ended when he told his friend about it because open communication allowed for resolution and understanding. By expressing his anger, the speaker gave his friend a chance to...
A Poison Tree
Who are the victims in the poem "A Poison Tree"?
In "A Poison Tree," the primary victim is the enemy who eats the poisoned apple and dies. Additionally, the narrator could be considered a victim to a lesser extent, as the energy and effort required...
A Poison Tree
What does the apple in William Blake's "A Poison Tree" represent? Is it related to the persona's revenge?
In William Blake's "A Poison Tree," the apple symbolizes the speaker's bottled-up wrath and anger towards his foe. This wrath is nurtured secretly, growing until it manifests as a bright apple. The...
A Poison Tree
What actions did the speaker take to ensure the tree's healthy growth?
The speaker ensures the tree's healthy growth by nurturing it with negative emotions. He suppresses his anger towards his foe, allowing it to intensify and "water" the tree with his fears and tears....
A Poison Tree
References to "it" in "A Poison Tree."
In "A Poison Tree," "it" refers to the speaker's anger. The poem describes how the speaker nurtures and cultivates this anger, allowing it to grow into a metaphorical tree that ultimately bears...
A Poison Tree
What are the key images and theme in William Blake's "A Poison Tree"?
Key images in William Blake's "A Poison Tree" include a growing tree, a bright apple, and a garden, symbolizing the cultivation of anger. The theme revolves around the destructive nature of...
A Poison Tree
What are the relationships between Romeo and Juliet and "A Poison Tree"?
The relationship between "A Poison Tree" and Romeo and Juliet lies in their exploration of the destructive nature of unexpressed anger and hatred. In "A Poison Tree," Blake illustrates how suppressed...
A Poison Tree
In "A Poison Tree", how does the speaker's wrath affect his friend and enemy?
In "A Poison Tree," the speaker's wrath dissipates with his friend because he expresses it openly, but with his enemy, the wrath grows as he conceals it. By nurturing his anger secretly, the...
A Poison Tree
What is the significance of the story in "A Poison Tree"?
The story in "A Poison Tree" illustrates the destructive nature of repressed anger. The narrator harbors wrath against an enemy, symbolically growing it into a tree that bears a deadly apple. This...
A Poison Tree
How might the original title "Christian Forbearance" apply to "A Poison Tree"?
Blake's poem "A Poison Tree" is a commentary on the virtues of honesty versus the vices of dishonesty. The speaker of the poem advises that honesty is better than forbearance; that concealing...
A Poison Tree
What is the contrast between two occasions of anger in the first stanza of "A Poison Tree"?
The first stanza of "A Poison Tree" contrasts two responses to anger. When the speaker is angry with a friend, he expresses his feelings, resolving the anger. In contrast, when angry with a foe, he...