A Poison Tree — Flashcards

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A Poison Tree was written by William Blake, an English poet and painter. He is known for his strong imagination, symbolic style, and important place in Romantic and Pre-Romantic poetry.

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The original title was Christian Forbearance. This title suggests patience and self-control, but the poem shows a darker result when anger is hidden instead of resolved.

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A Poison Tree was published in 1794. It is part of William Blake's Songs of Experience, a collection that presents the more troubled side of human emotions and life.

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A Poison Tree belongs to Songs of Experience. This collection shows painful truths, emotional conflict, and the darker side of human nature.

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When the speaker tells his anger to a friend, the anger ends. The poem shows that open expression can reduce hostility and prevent bitterness from growing.

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When the speaker does not tell his anger to a foe, the anger grows. Hidden anger is allowed to fester, and this becomes the central danger of the poem.

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Hidden anger grows because it is not spoken out, cleared, or resolved. Instead of disappearing, it is fed by fear, tears, false smiles, and deceit, making it stronger and more harmful.

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This means the speaker keeps feeding his anger with negative feelings. Fear and tears act like water to a plant, helping the anger grow bigger and more dangerous.