Read the poem.
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 watered 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.
Question 1
Part A
What can be inferred about the cause of the speaker's wrath?
He is jealous over his foe's accomplishments.
He is jealous over his foe's accomplishments.
He lacks good communication skills.
He lacks good communication skills.
He is angry over an unresolved argument.
He is angry over an unresolved argument.
He feels distraught over a childhood disagreement.
He feels distraught over a childhood disagreement.
Question 2
Part B - Points depend on a correct response in Part A.
Which lines from the poem best support the answer in Part A?
"And I watered it in fears / Night and morning with my tears,"
"And I watered it in fears / Night and morning with my tears,"
"And I sunned it with smiles / And with soft deceitful wiles."
"And I sunned it with smiles / And with soft deceitful wiles."
"And into my garden stole / When the night had veiled the pole;"
"And into my garden stole / When the night had veiled the pole;"
"I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow."