BSc BA ADP English Notes Poem A Poison Tree (William Blake) Important Questions

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Questions No 1. Bring out the symbolism of the poem "A Poison Tree" by William Blake.

Ans. The poem " A Poison Tree" by William Blake is a symbolic poem. The very topic is symbolic. It is the symbol of mutual hate, anger, deceit, cunningness, cleverness, hypocrisy and such other negative values of human society. It reminds us of the "forbidden tree" of the Garden of Eden in the Paradise.

This poisonous tree is beautiful to look at and grows sweet-colored fruit which is totally poisonous from inside. Hate, fear, deceit and anger grow it as water grows a plant. There is the sunny fake smile also to give it warmth and ripeness.

The enemy is unaware of all these advancements as there is lack of communication and understanding between the two, i.e., the enemy and the "apple-tree-owner". The enemy is, after all, an enemy. So when the tree bears a good-looking apple, he steals into the garden under the cover of dark night and eats that apple with relish. As a result, he dies.

Hatred/Enmity and particularly hidden one, easily kills the opponent. All this has been beautifully brought out for the readers with the help of perfectly used symbols. The poem is highly symbolic like many other poems of William Blake, such as "The Little Girl Found" and "The Echoing Green".

Questions No 2. Bring out the beauties of Blake's "A Poison Tree". Or Write Critical Appreciations of the poem.

Ans. " A Poison Tree" is a sweet lyric by William Blake who is famous as a mystic poet in English literature. Most of his poems have two meanings, one, the clear or the outward; two, the hidden or the inward. This poem also gives us a food for thought. The poet has presented the items of love and hated, trust and deceit, friendship and enmity, for our consideration. He wishes to promote good-will, confidence, love and friendship among people.

The poem has a deep concern with human life and destiny. It presents a philosophic but symbolic representation of hatred. The poet tells us that he was once angry with his friend. He told about his anger to the friend and forgave him as there was a mutual understanding between them. But once he was angry with his enemy and did not tell him about that. There was a lack of trust between both of them, so the question of forgiveness did not arise. The hatred went on growing in the form of a plant. One day a beautiful but poisonous apple appeared at that. The enemy stole it at night, ate it and died and the poet was pleased to find him lying dead the next morning.

The poet had told us about a very valuable subject in the poem - the universal problem of hate and love, trust and mistrust, enmity and friendship. He has used a sweet practical imagery for expressing his deep ideas. The plant, water, tree, the bright apple - all are there painted sweetly. He has used all these as symbols. The plant of hatred and anger gets nourishment through tears of fear and smiles of deceit. This plant grows day and night as it is watered morning and evening and sunned with cheating tricks. The fruit of this cunning hate appears in the form of apple which is bright and beautiful outwardly and poisonous from inside. The enemy steals it at night, eats is and dies as a result, Thus the poet is free from his enemy. He has depicted all the various stages of anger, hatred, mistrust and cunningness in a very skillful manner. The imagery and symbolism of the poem are perfect.

All through the poem the tool of simile is used with skill. Words are full of emotions and sentiments. Almost every other word gives us a comparison between two things. The poem has been composed in iambic pentameter with here and there rhythmic variations plus an additional foot or syllable at one or two places. There are four regular stanzas with four lines each. The rhyme scheme is a a b b, that is, the rhyme royal or that of heroic couplet. Most of the words are monosyllabic as in lines no. 2, 4, 9.

The language of the poem is quite simple and straightforward and the meanings very profound and deep. The hidden meanings are as important as the obvious one. The poet leaves on us the work of finding out the implicit meanings that love makes and hatred kills. The "apple" makes us remember the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden in Paradise as the Christians believe it to be apple. [We Muslims believe that it was the plant of wheat. Only Allah knows the reality! ] The words "soft deceitful wiles" make us remember the wiles of Satan who deceived our forefathers, Prophet Adam and Eve (Blessings of Allah be on them both!) into eating the forbidden fruit.

The rhythm of the poem is well-suited to the clear-cut subject. The style of the writing is rather epigrammatic like that of famous classical Greek and Romans poets. Almost all the lines are end-stopped. The vocabulary is chosen and symbolic.

Question No 3. Pick out all the words related to hate and anger.

Ans. These are the words related to hate and anger.

angry (line 1), wrath (line 2)[used twice in the line], foe (line 3), wrath (line 4), fears (line 5), tears (line 6), deceitful (line 8), wiles (line 8), foe (line 11), stole (line 13), veil'd (line 14). foe (line 16), outstretched (line 16).

Question No 4. How appropriate is the title of the poem?

Ans.  The title of the poem is perfectly appropriate. Hatred and mistrust are really very poisonous and grow secretly but very fastly enough as the tree in the poem. Such a tree bears fruit which is very misleading to look at. It is bright colored fruit. But inside that fruit it is all poison.

Question No 5. Can you describe briefly an experience arousing intense hatred?

Ans. All praises be to Allah who has made me a Muslim. A Muslim never hates anyone. As a Muslim, I hate the evil and wicked habits/routines adopted by somebody but I do not hate that fellow. A true Muslim should hate the wickedness of the wicked person but not the wicked person himself. As I try to act (May Allah help me!) as a true Muslim, so I try not to hate any person. I remember to forgive whenever there arises a matter of hatred around me. I never keep hatred in my heart, thanks to Allah!

Question No 6. What words or images would you use for expressing anger and/ or hatred?

Ans. Words like "anger", "wicked", "evil", "darkness". "snake", "clever". may be used for expressing anger and/or hatred.