POEM – 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.

William Blake

Practice 1

1. In Stanza 1, which word in the poem means ‘the feeling of anger’?

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2. In Stanza 2, what did the persona water his wrath with?

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3. Why is he angry with his foe?

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4. List two things that you can learn from the poem

i. ________________________________________________________________ (1M)

ii. ________________________________________________________________ (1M)

Practice 2

1. In Stanza 1, what did the persona do when he was angry with his friend?

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2. In Stanza 3, what does ‘It” refer to?
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3. Which line suggests that the persona’s enemy noticed the apple?

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4. Anger management is very important. Give two reasons to support our statement.

i. ________________________________________________________________ (1M)

ii. ________________________________________________________________ (1M)

Practice 3

1. In Stanza 1, who was the persona angry with?

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2. In Stanza 1, how was the persona able to make up with his friend after the misunderstand?

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3. How did the persona feed his anger? Give one way.

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4. How would you feel when you gave misunderstanding with your friend? Explain.

i. Feeling : ________________________________________________________ (1M)

ii. Explanation : ____________________________________________________ (1M)

Practice 4

1. How does the persona feel towards his foe?

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2. Which word in the poem means devious?

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3. Which line tells you the persona is pleased to see the foe dead?

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4. Do you think it is right for the persona to treat his enemy in such a way?

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5. How would you treat your enemy?

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Practice 5

1. In Stanza 1, who are the people the persona is angry with?

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2. In Stanza 2, state a characteristic that describe the persona

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3. In Stanza 4, which line indicates that the foe is dead

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4. What is the best thing to do when you are angry?

i. Action : ________________________________________________________ (1M)

ii. Reason : ________________________________________________________ (1M)