Poetry Analysis: 'A Poison Tree'

Questions and Answers

What was the result of expressing anger towards the friend?

The anger was resolved. (correct)

The friend felt guilty.

The friendship ended.

The anger continued to grow.

How did the narrator care for their anger towards the foe?

By discussing it openly with others.

By ignoring it completely.

By confronting the foe directly.

By watering it with fear and tears. (correct)

What does the apple symbolize in the poem?

Friendship and trust.

The growth of wrath and resentment. (correct)

Happiness and joy.

A literal fruit of labor.

What actions did the foe take in the narrator's garden?

He tried to steal the apple. Signup and view all the answers

What emotional states did the narrator associate with their growing wrath?

Fear and deceit. Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the narrator's decision not to express anger towards their foe?

The wrath intensified over time. Signup and view all the answers

Which actions did the narrator take to nurture their anger towards their foe?

They watered it with tears and disguised it with smiles. Signup and view all the answers

What is implied about the apple at the end of the poem?

It represents a consequence of hidden wrath. Signup and view all the answers

What contrasts the narrator's relationship with the friend and the foe?

The friend is associated with nurturing emotions positively. Signup and view all the answers

How does the narrator feel upon discovering their foe beneath the tree?

Pleased and vindicated. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Anger and Its Consequences

The speaker experiences different responses to anger towards a friend and a foe.
Expressing anger towards a friend leads to resolution; however, suppressing anger towards a foe causes it to fester.

Growth of Resentment

The speaker nurtures their hidden anger with fears and tears, indicating vulnerability.
Deceitful behaviors and false smiles contribute to the exacerbation of hidden wrath, likened to cultivating a plant.

Symbolism of the Apple

The "apple bright" symbolizes the fruition of the speaker's resentment, representing temptation or a toxic outcome.
The brightness of the apple shows the attractive yet dangerous nature of unaddressed anger.

The Act of Revenge

The foe, enticed by the appearance of the apple, trespasses into the speaker's garden, suggesting a moment of vulnerability or opportunity for confrontation.
The final image of the foe "outstretched beneath the tree" evokes themes of poetic justice or fatal retribution, showcasing the consequences of repressed anger.

Anger and Its Consequences

The speaker experiences different responses to anger towards a friend and a foe.
Expressing anger towards a friend leads to resolution; however, suppressing anger towards a foe causes it to fester.

Growth of Resentment

The speaker nurtures their hidden anger with fears and tears, indicating vulnerability.
Deceitful behaviors and false smiles contribute to the exacerbation of hidden wrath, likened to cultivating a plant.

Symbolism of the Apple

The "apple bright" symbolizes the fruition of the speaker's resentment, representing temptation or a toxic outcome.
The brightness of the apple shows the attractive yet dangerous nature of unaddressed anger.

The Act of Revenge

The foe, enticed by the appearance of the apple, trespasses into the speaker's garden, suggesting a moment of vulnerability or opportunity for confrontation.
The final image of the foe "outstretched beneath the tree" evokes themes of poetic justice or fatal retribution, showcasing the consequences of repressed anger.

Description

Test your understanding of William Blake's poem 'A Poison Tree'. This quiz explores the themes, imagery, and emotions conveyed in the poem. Dive into the intricate relationship between anger and the consequences of repressed feelings as depicted by Blake.