A Poison Tree - Poem

Poem

A Poison Tree

William Blake

Read the poem with your partner and then 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 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 veiled the pole;

In the morning glad I see,

My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

-William Blake

About the author

William Blake (1757 – 1827) was an English Poet, painter and print maker. Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of English poetry.He was born in London. He was a boldly imaginative rebel in both his thought and his art. Some of his famous poems are “The Lamb” and “The Tiger”.

A. Choose the option that suits your own behavior in the given situa-tions. Compare your answers with a partner's answers.

1. You overhear a friend talking badly about you. How angry does that make you feel?

o   I don’t feel angry at all.

o   I feel moderately angry.

o   I feel slightly annoyed.

o   I feel very angry.

o   I feel a little angry.

o   I feel furious.

2. Your friend persuades you to take help to prepare for the Maths board examination, from a close friend. That person does not turn up at all, as agreed. How angry does that make you feel?

o   I don’t feel angry at all.

o   I feel moderately angry.

o   I feel slightly annoyed.

o   I feel very angry.

o   I feel a little angry.

o   I feel furious.

3. You have agreed to pick up some friends at the train station. They are coming to stay with you for a few days. You’ve arranged with your elder brother/ sister to drive the car for the day. You are about to leave the house when you realise the car is outside but your brother/ sister has gone to work, taking the keys!. How angry does that make you feel?

o   I don’t feel angry at all.

o   I feel moderately angry.

o   I feel slightly annoyed.

o   I feel very angry.

o   I feel a little angry.

o   I feel furious.

4. During a get together, your friend makes fun of your singing in front of your friends. You thought your singing was fine, but your friend thinks you really need to practice much more. How angry does that make you feel?

o   I don’t feel angry at all.

o   I feel moderately angry.

o   I feel slightly annoyed.

o   I feel very angry.

o   I feel a little angry.

o   I feel furious.

B. Answer the following questions. Share your views with the class

·        Do you argue often with your classmates ?

·        Do you forgive them or choose to remain enemies forever?

·        How long does your anger last?