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 waterd it in fears,
night & 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 veild the pole;
in the morning glad i see
my foe outstretchd beneath the tree.

1. read the third stanza of the poem.

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,

how does this stanza develop the meaning of the poem?
a. by indicating that \my foe\ is nearby, the stanza reveals that the foe is trying to make amends with the speaker.
b. by stating that the tree is growing \both day and night,\ the stanza reveals that the tree is becoming bigger.
c. by stating that the tree had borne \an apple bright,\ the stanza reveals that the tree is enriching the speaker.
d. by stating that \he knew that it was mine,\ the stanza reveals that the foe is respectful of the speaker.

1. what information about the foe is left unresolved in the poem?

a. the identity of the foe
b. the location where the foe goes at the end of the poem
c. the effect the foe has on the speaker
d. the reason the speakers anger for the foe grows

Explanation:

1. For the first question:

• Option A is incorrect; the foe's proximity does not signal amends.
• Option B is correct: the tree (a metaphor for unspoken anger) growing constantly shows the anger intensifies, advancing the poem's theme of repressed wrath escalating.
• Option C is incorrect; the apple is a symbol of poisoned anger, not enrichment.
• Option D is incorrect; the foe knowing the apple is the speaker's shows coveting, not respect.

1. For the second question:

• Option A is correct: the poem never reveals who the foe is, their identity remains unresolved.
• Option B is incorrect; the foe is found dead under the speaker's tree at the end.
• Option C is incorrect; the foe clearly provokes the speaker's growing wrath and eventual satisfaction at their death.
• Option D is incorrect; the poem states the anger grew because the speaker did not confront the foe about it.

Answer:

1. B. By stating that the tree is growing "both day and night," the stanza reveals that the tree is becoming bigger.
2. A. the identity of the foe