Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the result of expressing anger towards the friend?
What was the result of expressing anger towards the friend?
How did the narrator care for their anger towards the foe?
How did the narrator care for their anger towards the foe?
What does the apple symbolize in the poem?
What does the apple symbolize in the poem?
What actions did the foe take in the narrator's garden?
What actions did the foe take in the narrator's garden?
Signup and view all the answers
What emotional states did the narrator associate with their growing wrath?
What emotional states did the narrator associate with their growing wrath?
Signup and view all the answers
What was a consequence of the narrator's decision not to express anger towards their foe?
What was a consequence of the narrator's decision not to express anger towards their foe?
Signup and view all the answers
Which actions did the narrator take to nurture their anger towards their foe?
Which actions did the narrator take to nurture their anger towards their foe?
Signup and view all the answers
What is implied about the apple at the end of the poem?
What is implied about the apple at the end of the poem?
Signup and view all the answers
What contrasts the narrator's relationship with the friend and the foe?
What contrasts the narrator's relationship with the friend and the foe?
Signup and view all the answers
How does the narrator feel upon discovering their foe beneath the tree?
How does the narrator feel upon discovering their foe beneath the tree?
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.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
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.