A Poison Tree

​​In a nutshell 

William Blake, an English poet, wrote "A Poison Tree", which was first published in 1794. In this poem, the speaker's rage is compared to a tree that bears poisonous apples in the poem's extended metaphor. The poem is typically seen as an allegory for the peril of suppressing emotions. In this summary, you will learn the content, structure, language and ideas of "A Poison Tree".

Content 

Stanza one 

The speaker talks about getting upset with a friend. After the speaker told their friend about their anger, it subsided. On the other hand, the speaker remained silent when he was furious with an enemy. Then, their rage grew.

Stanza two 

This anger was raised by the speaker as if it were a garden and was symbolically fed by their emotions. The speaker's smiles and other subtle attempts to mask their anger only fuel it.

Stanza three 

The anger never stopped growing until it transformed into a tree that produced a ripe apple. The speaker's adversary noticed this apple shining and recognised it as theirs.

Stanza four 

The enemy tried to steal the apple. The speaker is relieved to discover their foe dead beneath the tree the following morning. 

Structure 

Form

The poem "A Poison Tree" has a straightforward structure, with four quatrains that each contain two rhyming couplets. 

However, the poem can also be broken down into the first two lines and the subsequent fourteen lines. This second structure, which lies beneath the poem's more obvious straightforward format, echoes the poem's meaning. The scenario in lines 1 and 2 shows the speaker talking about their anger and putting it almost immediately to rest. The poem's next 14 lines, however, describe how anger festers when it is repressed and the serious consequences that result.

Rhythm

The poem's straightforward and predictable rhythm makes it very simple to read. In contrast to the extremely complex human emotions he is describing, Blake has written this poem in a straightforward and superficially simple manner.

Metre 

"A Poison Tree" has a 'sing-song' metre that gives the poem an almost nursery rhyme-like quality. Making the verses straightforward and memorable is one of the main effects of the metre, along with the flawless rhyme throughout. This memorability supports the idea that this poem is meant to serve as a warning. 

The poem is written in trochaic tetrameter, with each line having four stressed and then unstressed syllables. The majority of the poem is in the past tense and the poem's metre supports the notion that it is too late to stop the anger from growing.

Rhyme

Each stanza comprises two rhyming couplets that follow the common AABB pattern. The conflict between the verse's innocent, almost naive sound and its weary-of-the-world message makes the poem effective. The rhyme pattern's simplicity also elevates the poem's cautionary message and makes it more apparent and memorable. 

Language 

In this poem, Blake uses linguistic devices to highlight the harmful effects of anger.

Anaphora

The first stanza's repetition enables the poem to lay out its two opposing scenarios. The word "I" is repeated to emphasise that the speaker has explicit agency in choosing how to handle unpleasant emotions. The poem's straightforward language and frequent use of "and" give it a deceptively innocent feel that brings to mind the sing-song verse of nursery rhymes cautionary tales. 

Extended metaphor

The poem expresses the dangers of repressed anger through the extended metaphor of a growing poison tree, as the anger grows, so does the poison.  In other words, as the speaker's rage increases, the poem lengthens.

Antithesis 

In the first stanza, Blake used this tool. The opening line concentrates on discussing anger with a friend, and then it disappears. The opposite action—concealing his rage from the enemy—is depicted in the following two lines, and it intensifies.

Allusion

Through linguistic choices, the poem makes reference to the Garden of Eden. For instance, there are connections between Adam and Eve and the word "apple" and negativity.

Symbolism 

The use of symbols to represent concepts and traits gives them symbolic meanings distinct from their literal connotations. While "garden" represents the place in his heart where hatred is nurtured, "tree" represents his wrath and anger.

Themes 

Anger

This emotion drives the poem forward. The first stanza contrasts two different approaches to handling anger and the two possible outcomes. The extended metaphor of the apple shows the different ways which anger can be dealt with.

Communication

The speaker/poet imparts to the reader a clear moral lesson about the dire results of his own failure to interact with another person. The poem explores how straightforward discussing a problem would be, as well as how straightforward it is to remain silent and allow resentment to fester.

Forgiveness

The poem shows how the act of forgiveness can have a great effect. In the first scenario, the speaker addresses their anger and forgives. In the second, their anger is left to fester and grow. It takes up their time and energy and creates a physical embodiment in the form of the tree.

Key quotations​​