Read the poem.

Question

A Poison Tree

by William Blake

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 water’d 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 veil’d the pole;

In the morning glad I see

My foe outstretch’d beneath the tree.

Question
How does the imagery of the second stanza affect this poem?

Responses

It helps convey the idea that one can literally water a tree with tears and help it grow with one's happiness.
It helps convey the idea that one can literally water a tree with tears and help it grow with one's happiness.

It suggests that the speaker is poisoned by his own fear and deceit as his wrath grows.
It suggests that the speaker is poisoned by his own fear and deceit as his wrath grows.

It helps convey the idea that fear and deceit nourish and foster the growth of anger.
It helps convey the idea that fear and deceit nourish and foster the growth of anger.

It suggests that there is no difference between the speaker's "tears" and the speaker's "smiles."
It suggests that there is no difference between the speaker's "tears" and the speaker's "smiles."

Answer 1

The correct response is:

It helps convey the idea that fear and deceit nourish and foster the growth of anger.

In the second stanza, the imagery of watering the wrath with "fears" and "tears," along with nurturing it with "smiles" and "soft deceitful wiles," suggests that negative emotions can contribute to the growth of anger. The metaphor of the tree growing represents how unresolved feelings can develop and become dangerous, reflecting the overall theme of the poem.