'A Poison Tree' by William Blake
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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 & morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with my 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
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry Analysis: A Poison Tree by William Blake
Are you a fan of poetry that packs a punch? Then William Blake's "A Poison Tree" is just the poem for you. Published in 1794, this classic piece of literature has stood the test of time and remains relevant even today. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the meaning and significance of this powerful poem.
Summary
"A Poison Tree" is a four-stanza poem that tells the story of how the speaker's feelings of anger and hatred towards his enemy, who we assume to be a friend or a lover, lead to his eventual demise. In the first stanza, the speaker reveals that he has told his "wrath" to his "friend," but it has only grown stronger. He then goes on to say that he has nurtured this "tree" of anger with "watering" and "sunshine" until it bore "an apple bright." In the second stanza, the speaker reveals that his enemy has stolen this apple, and in the third stanza, he reveals that he has decided to take revenge. He smiles at his enemy while secretly planning his revenge, and the fourth and final stanza reveals that his enemy has died after eating the poisoned apple.
Literary Devices
One of the most striking literary devices used in "A Poison Tree" is personification. The speaker personifies his anger, describing it as a "tree" that he has nurtured and tended to until it bore fruit. This personification makes the anger seem almost alive and gives it a sinister quality. The speaker also personifies his enemy, describing him as a "foe" and as someone who "crept" into his garden and stole his apple. This personification elevates the enemy to the level of a villain in the speaker's mind.
Another literary device used in "A Poison Tree" is metaphor. The tree of anger that the speaker has nurtured is a metaphor for his feelings towards his enemy. The "apple bright" that the tree bears is a metaphor for the revenge that the speaker seeks. This use of metaphor gives the poem a deeper layer of meaning and makes it more relatable to readers.
The poem also makes use of repetition. The phrase "my wrath did grow" is repeated twice in the first stanza, emphasizing how the speaker's anger has been growing and growing. The phrase "and I watered it in fears" is repeated twice in the second stanza, emphasizing how the speaker's fear has been feeding his anger. This repetition reinforces the central theme of the poem, which is how unchecked anger and hatred can lead to destruction.
Themes
The central theme of "A Poison Tree" is the destructive power of unchecked anger and hatred. The speaker's anger towards his enemy is not the problem in and of itself, but rather the fact that he has nurtured it and allowed it to grow unchecked. This unchecked anger leads to the speaker seeking revenge and ultimately to his enemy's death. The poem warns us of the danger of allowing our negative emotions to fester and grow until they consume us.
Another theme of the poem is the danger of secrecy. The speaker smiles at his enemy while secretly planning his revenge, and this secrecy is what ultimately leads to his enemy's downfall. The poem warns us of the danger of keeping our negative emotions hidden and not dealing with them in a healthy way.
Interpretation
There are many ways in which "A Poison Tree" can be interpreted, but one possible interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the harmful effects of the French Revolution, which was occurring at the time the poem was written. The tree of anger that the speaker has nurtured can be seen as a metaphor for the anger and hatred that fueled the French Revolution. The poem warns us that this unchecked anger can lead to destruction and death.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the danger of allowing our negative emotions to fester and grow. The speaker's anger towards his enemy is not the problem in and of itself, but rather the fact that he has allowed it to grow unchecked. The poem warns us of the danger of allowing our negative emotions to consume us and lead us down a path of destruction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "A Poison Tree" is a powerful poem that has stood the test of time. Its central theme of the destructive power of unchecked anger and hatred is as relevant today as it was when the poem was written over two hundred years ago. By using literary devices such as personification, metaphor, and repetition, William Blake creates a haunting and unforgettable poem that warns us of the dangers of allowing our negative emotions to consume us. Whether you are a fan of poetry or not, "A Poison Tree" is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry A Poison Tree: An Analysis of William Blake's Masterpiece
William Blake's "A Poison Tree" is a classic poem that has been studied and analyzed by scholars for centuries. The poem is a powerful commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of anger, revenge, and the destructive nature of holding grudges. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its meaning, symbolism, and significance.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a sing-song quality that belies its dark subject matter. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker describing their experience of anger and its consequences.
The first stanza sets the scene for the poem, with the speaker describing how they "planted" a tree of anger in their garden. The tree is a metaphor for the speaker's anger, which they have nurtured and allowed to grow. The use of the word "planted" suggests that the speaker has deliberately chosen to hold onto their anger, rather than letting it go.
The second stanza describes how the speaker's anger has grown and become stronger. The use of the word "watered" suggests that the speaker has actively fed their anger, rather than trying to quell it. The image of the tree growing "both day and night" suggests that the speaker's anger is all-consuming and never-ending.
The third stanza is where the poem takes a darker turn. The speaker describes how they "told it not" to their friend, who is also their enemy. The use of the word "told" suggests that the speaker has deliberately kept their anger hidden from their friend, perhaps in order to use it against them later. The fact that the friend is also the speaker's enemy suggests that the anger is rooted in a personal conflict between the two.
The final stanza is the climax of the poem, where the speaker reveals the consequences of their anger. They describe how their enemy "stole into my garden" and ate the fruit of the tree. The use of the word "stole" suggests that the enemy has done something wrong, but the speaker's anger has blinded them to their own culpability. The fact that the enemy is able to eat the fruit of the tree suggests that the speaker's anger has borne fruit in the form of revenge.
The final two lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. The speaker describes how their anger has been sated by the revenge they have taken, and how they are now able to "smile" at their enemy. The use of the word "smile" suggests that the speaker has achieved some kind of victory over their enemy, but at what cost? The fact that the speaker is able to smile suggests that they have become hardened and callous, and that their anger has consumed them.
Symbolism is a key element of the poem, with the tree serving as a metaphor for the speaker's anger. The fact that the tree is described as growing "both day and night" suggests that the anger is all-consuming and never-ending. The fact that the tree bears fruit in the form of revenge suggests that the speaker's anger has tangible consequences.
The use of the word "stole" to describe the enemy's actions is also significant. It suggests that the enemy has done something wrong, but the speaker's anger has blinded them to their own culpability. The fact that the enemy is able to eat the fruit of the tree suggests that the speaker's anger has borne fruit in the form of revenge.
The poem is also significant in its exploration of the human condition. It highlights the destructive nature of holding grudges and seeking revenge, and the toll that anger can take on a person's soul. The fact that the speaker is able to smile at their enemy suggests that they have become hardened and callous, and that their anger has consumed them.
In conclusion, William Blake's "A Poison Tree" is a powerful commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of anger, revenge, and the destructive nature of holding grudges. The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines, and uses symbolism to convey its message. The poem is significant in its exploration of the human condition, and serves as a warning against the dangers of anger and revenge.
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