A Poison Tree

Who is the author of 'A Poison Tree'?

• William Faulkner

• William Shakespeare

• William Wordsworth

• William Blake

Answer explanation

The author of 'A Poison Tree' is William Blake.

What happens when the speaker tells his wrath to his friend?

• His wrath grows

• His wrath ends

• His friend gets angry

• His friend leaves

Answer explanation

When the speaker tells his wrath (anger) to his friend, his anger ends. This implies that by sharing his feelings with his friend, the speaker is able to let go of his wrath and find resolution.

What does the speaker do with his wrath towards his foe?

• He forgets it

• He nurtures it

• He ignores it

• He tells it to his foe

Answer explanation

The speaker nurtures his wrath towards his foe (enemy). This implies that he holds onto and feeds into his anger rather than letting it go.

How does the speaker nurture his wrath?

• With love and care

• With fears and tears

• With anger and hatred

• With joy and laughter

Answer explanation

The speaker nurtures his wrath with fears and tears, indicating that his anger is fueled by negative emotions and experiences that the speaker is holding onto.

What does the wrath eventually grow into?

• A garden

• A flower

• A tree

• An apple

Answer explanation

This poem uses an extended metaphor to describe how the speaker's anger as growing into a tree that bears poisonous apples.

What happens at the end of the poem when the foe steals the apple?

• The foe stole the apple, ate it, and died from the poison.

• The foe stole the apple, took out its seeds, and planted a new tree.

• The foe found the apple, stole it, but then returned it to the speaker as a truce.

• The foe found the apple, baked it in a pie, and fed it to the speaker.

Answer explanation

The enemy stole the apple, ate it, then died from the poison. This continues the metaphor by indicating that the enemy was killed by the speakers unresolved anger. The poem demonstrates how anger, when buried, can grow into something dangerous.

What is the main theme of 'A Poison Tree'?

• Joy and happiness

• Nature and beauty

• Anger and its consequences

• Love and friendship

Answer explanation

The main theme of 'A Poison Tree' is anger and its consequences, as the poem explores the destructive nature of holding onto anger and the repercussions it can have. This year, we will learn more about how to identify themes like this in literature!