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 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.


Which of the following best describes the theme of this poem and how it is presented?
A.
The lack of rhythm or meter brings out the conflict between suppressing and expressing anger against one’s foes.
B.
The childlike tone reveals the contrasting cunningness and cruelty with which one goes about destroying one’s foes.
C.
The repetitive use of alliteration highlights the obsession with competing and gaining an advantage over one’s foes.
D.
The regular AABB rhyme brings out the natural tendency to make neighbors jealous of one’s blooming garden.

Answer 1

"The childlike tone reveals the contrasting cunningness and cruelty with which one goes about destroying one’s foes" best describes the theme of this poem and how it is presented

Option-B

Step-by-step explanation:

The poem by Blake is a unique expression of the outcomes of long suppressed anger. The poet is angry with his friend and foe both. In the former case, communication helps and vents out the emotion. In the latter case, the contrary happens.

Due to no communication between the two, the emotion stays on and grows with time. In the end, we see the poet happy when the enemy has to suffer. Such childlike straightforwardness of tone supports the theme.