A Poison Tree

Question 1

A poison tree

Answer 1

EXTENDED METAPHOR of growing tree representing his anger

Tree JUXTAPOSED by poison. Tree represents purity and life.

Question 2

I was angry with my friend

Answer 2

REPETITION of I show these negative emotions are internalized hatred or start internally.

Question 3

I told my wrath, my wrath did end

Answer 3

Wrath portrayed as uncontrollable. Sin.

Question 4

And I waterd it in fears

Answer 4

NURTURING language nature IMAGERY, contrasted with fears, creates OMINOUS TONE.
Shows anger causing great pain, yet he is still pursuing it.

Question 5

And I sunned it with smiles

Answer 5

See above for sunned

SIBILLANCE heightens festering anger

Question 6

And with soft deceitful wiles

Question 7

And it grew both day and night

Question 8

Till it bore an apple bright

Answer 8

Apple fruit of wrath, Biblical imagery foreshadows consequences of ending

Question 9

When the night had veild the pole

Question 10

In the morning glad I see

Answer 10

inverted sentence “Glad” demonstrates joy voice feels on killing enemy. Shows negative emotions construed reality.

Question 11

My foe outstretched beneath the tree

Answer 11

EUPHEMISM and ambiguous image of death. Voice so overcome by wrath, no sense of moral perspective

Question 12

Structure 1

Answer 12

ANAPHORA- endless cycle of leaving emotions untended. Repetitive emulates cycle of hatred

Question 13

Structure 2

Answer 13

REGULAR STANZA and RHYME scheme provides simplistic appearance compared to sophisticated undertones. Contrasts irregular actions of conflict.

This veils the sophistication of the message similarly to how the negative emotions are veiled by “deceitful wiles”