Exam - Practice Questions

Set 1
Read the following stanzas from the poem A Poison Tree by William Blake below and
answer the questions that follow.

I was angry with my friend:

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
William Blake
1

What is the meaning of wrath in Line 2?

(1 mark)
2

Why did the wrath with the personas friend end ?

(1 mark)
3

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

(1 mark)
4

What would you do if you had a misunderstanding with your foe?

(2 marks)

Set 2
Read the following stanzas from the poem A Poison Tree by William Blake below and
answer the questions that follow.
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole:
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree
1

In Stanza 1, which word in the poem means anger?

(1 mark)
2

In Stanza 2, which phrase suggests that the persona pretended and used tricks?

(1 mark)
3

Why do you think the foe wanted the apple?

(1 mark)
4

The persona is happy to see his enemy dead. Do you think he is right to feel that
way? Give a reason.

(2 marks)

Set 3
Read the following stanzas from the poem A Poison Tree by William Blake below and
answer the questions that follow.
A Poison Tree
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole:
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree
1

In Stanza 1, how did the persona deal with his anger?

(1 mark)
2

In Stanza 2, which two phrases show that the persona was not sincere?

(1 mark)
3

In Stanza 4, explain what is meant by stole into my garden?

(1 mark)
4

The persona is very angry and allows his anger to hurt him and the other person.
What other problem do people face today ? How should we deal with it?
Problem:
Solution:

(2 marks)
Set 4
Read the following stanzas from the poem A Poison Tree by William Blake below and
answer the questions that follow.
A Poison Tree
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole:
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree
1

In Stanza 1, what happens to an anger that is not settled?

(1 mark)
2

In Stanza 2, what does the phrase soft deceitful wiles tell you about the
persona?

(1 mark)
3

What fruit did this poison tree bear?

(1 mark)
4

What lesson do you learn from this poem? How is this lesson going to help you in
life.
Lesson:

Benefit:
(2 marks)

Set 5
Read the following stanzas from the poem A Poison Tree by William Blake below and
answer the questions that follow.
A Poison Tree
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole:
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree
1

In Stanza 1, give another word for foe.

(1 mark)
2

In Stanza 2, which phrase tells you that the persona was afraid?

(1 mark)
3

In Stanza 3, which phrase suggests that the persona kept his anger all the time?

(1 mark)
4

Have you ever felt very angry with a friend? How did you deal with it.
Example 1:

Example 2:
(2 marks)