A Poison Tree

By William Blake

I was angry with my friend; And it grew both day and night.
I told my wrath, my wrath did end. Till it bore an apple bright.
I was angry with my foe: And my foe beheld it shine,
I told it not, my wrath did grow. And he knew that it was mine.

And I watered it in fears, And into my garden stole,

Night & morning with my tears: When the night had veiled the pole;
And I sunned it with smiles, In the morning glad I see;
And with soft deceitful wiles. My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

STANZA 1

1. With whom is the persona angry with?

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2. Why do you think the persona is angry with them?

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3. Why did the wrath with the persona’s friend end?

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4. Why do you think that he did not tell his foe about his wrath?

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STANZA 2

1. What are the two things he does to make his anger grow like a tree?

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2. To what does the persona compare his growing anger?

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3. What does William Blake’s “poison tree” refer to?

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STANZA 3

1. What is the word “it” referred to?

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2. Give an example of the persona’s “deceitful wiles”.

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3. What does the word “apple” refer to?

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STANZA 4

1. What happens to his foe eventually? Give a reason for your answer.

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2. How does the persona feel about it?

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3. What was the persona’s reaction to this?

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4. What does this indicate about the persona?

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5. In the end, the persona or the persona’s foe is the loser? Give a reason for your answer.

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6. Write two things that you learn from this poem.

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7. What would you do if you have a misunderstanding with your foe?

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1. What is the meaning of:

a) wrath ……………………………………………….

b) foe ……………………………………………….

c) deceitful ……………………………………………….

d) wiles ……………………………………………….

e) bore ……………………………………………….

f) beheld ……………………………………………….

g) veiled ……………………………………………….

2. What does the meaning of the phrase:

a) My wrath did end - ……………………………………………………

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b) Told it not - ……………………………………………………

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c) Watered it in fears - ……………………………………………………

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d) Sunned it with smiles - ……………………………………………………

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e) With soft deceitful wiles ……………………………………………………

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f) Beheld it shine - ……………………………………………………

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g) Into my garden stole - ……………………………………………………

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h) Veiled the pole - ……………………………………………………

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i) Glad I see - ……………………………………………………

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