“A Poison Tree” by William Blake: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

“A Poison Tree” by William Blake first appeared in 1794 as part of his celebrated collection Songs of Experience, which explores themes of human emotion, morality, and the duality of innocence and corruption. The poem encapsulates the destructive potential of suppressed anger, contrasting open communication with deceit and bitterness. Its central idea revolves around the nurturing of unspoken wrath, symbolized by the metaphor of a tree that bears a deadly apple, culminating in the death of the “foe.” The lines “I was angry with my friend; / I told my wrath, my wrath did end” and “I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow” underscore the moral lesson of how concealed emotions fester into destructive outcomes. Popular as a textbook poem, it resonates with its vivid imagery, simplicity, and allegorical depth, making it an ideal tool for teaching both literary analysis and ethical introspection. Its timeless message about the consequences of harboring grudges cements its relevance across generations.

Text: “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

Annotations: “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

Line	Annotation
I was angry with my friend;	Expresses the speaker’s initial anger with a friend, highlighting a conflict in a personal relationship.
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.	Indicates that communication resolved the anger, showing the power of openness in healing relationships.
I was angry with my foe:	Introduces a shift in focus from a friend to an adversary, setting up a contrasting scenario.
I told it not, my wrath did grow.	The speaker suppresses their anger, allowing it to intensify, revealing the consequences of unspoken emotions.
And I waterd it in fears,	The metaphor of nurturing a tree begins here, with “fears” symbolizing the anxiety and negative emotions fueling anger.
Night & morning with my tears:	The tree (anger) is continually fed by the speaker’s sorrow and emotional turmoil, emphasizing constant preoccupation.
And I sunned it with smiles,	Deceptive actions (outward smiles) are used to conceal inner bitterness, highlighting hypocrisy and insincerity.
And with soft deceitful wiles.	Further emphasizes the deceit in nurturing anger while pretending kindness, adding moral complexity to the narrative.
And it grew both day and night.	The metaphorical tree thrives on the speaker’s concealed emotions, signifying the persistence and growth of anger.
Till it bore an apple bright.	The tree produces a “bright apple,” a symbol of temptation, revenge, or the culmination of suppressed wrath.
And my foe beheld it shine,	The adversary notices the apple, drawn to its allure, foreshadowing the tragic outcome.
And he knew that it was mine.	The foe recognizes the apple as belonging to the speaker, hinting at the personal nature of the conflict.
And into my garden stole,	The foe trespasses into the speaker’s metaphorical garden, an act that signifies vulnerability or a breach.
When the night had veild the pole;	The act occurs under the cover of darkness, suggesting secrecy and moral ambiguity.
In the morning glad I see;	The speaker takes grim satisfaction in the outcome, revealing a sense of vindication or moral corruption.
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.	The poem concludes with the death of the foe, symbolizing the destructive power of nurtured anger and vengeance.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

Device	Example	Explanation
Allegory	The entire poem	The poem serves as an allegory for the destructive nature of anger and the moral consequences of suppression.
Alliteration	“sunned it with smiles”	The repetition of the “s” sound emphasizes the insincere nurturing of anger.
Ambiguity	“My foe outstretched beneath the tree”	Leaves open interpretation—was the foe killed by the apple, the tree, or the speaker’s wrath?
Anaphora	“I was angry… I told my wrath”	The repetition of “I” at the beginning of consecutive clauses emphasizes personal emotions.
Antithesis	“I told my wrath, my wrath did end” / “I told it not, my wrath did grow”	Contrasting outcomes highlight the difference between expression and suppression of anger.
Conceit	The tree as a metaphor for anger	The extended metaphor compares anger to a tree that grows and bears poisonous fruit.
Connotation	“Apple bright”	The apple connotes temptation, sin, or danger, referencing biblical symbolism.
Contrast	“Friend” vs. “foe”	The poem contrasts how relationships are affected by communication or the lack thereof.
Deceptive Imagery	“Sunned it with smiles, / And with soft deceitful wiles”	Creates a visual of outward kindness hiding inner bitterness, enhancing the theme of hypocrisy.
End-stopped Lines	“And with soft deceitful wiles.”	Complete thoughts in individual lines create clarity and emphasize key points.
Enjambment	“And I waterd it in fears, / Night & morning with my tears”	Continuation of thought across lines creates a flow mirroring the nurturing of anger.
Extended Metaphor	The tree and its growth	Represents the escalation of suppressed anger over time.
Imagery	“Till it bore an apple bright”	Vivid sensory description of the apple conveys temptation and danger.
Irony	The foe dies, and the speaker feels glad	The speaker’s satisfaction in death highlights the ironic result of harboring anger.
Metaphor	“I waterd it in fears”	Emotions like fear and sorrow are metaphorically described as sustenance for the tree.
Personification	“My wrath did grow”	Wrath is personified as capable of growth, akin to a living being.
Rhyme Scheme	AABB	The consistent rhyme enhances the lyrical quality and simplicity of the moral lesson.
Symbolism	The apple and the tree	Symbols of suppressed anger, temptation, and revenge, rooted in biblical and universal themes.
Tone	Shifts from reflective to sinister	Begins introspectively but ends with a grim satisfaction, reflecting the speaker’s moral decline.
Underlying Moral	Suppression of anger leads to destruction	The entire poem conveys a lesson on the dangers of nurturing negative emotions.

Themes: “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

• Anger and Its Consequences
• In “A Poison Tree,” William Blake explores the destructive nature of suppressed anger and contrasts it with the resolution achieved through open communication. The lines “I was angry with my friend; / I told my wrath, my wrath did end” highlight how expressing anger can diffuse it, while “I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow” demonstrates that unspoken resentment festers and intensifies. The poem metaphorically portrays anger as a tree that is nurtured through fears, deceit, and silent malice, ultimately bearing a deadly fruit. This theme serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the dangers of allowing unresolved emotions to grow unchecked.
• Deception and Hypocrisy
• “A Poison Tree” delves into the duality of outward behavior and inner feelings, showcasing how deceit and hypocrisy can feed negative emotions. The speaker “sunned it with smiles, / And with soft deceitful wiles,” pretending outward amiability while secretly harboring malice. This duplicity not only perpetuates anger but also creates an environment for destructive consequences. The poem critiques the human tendency to mask true emotions, suggesting that such behavior can lead to moral and relational decay, symbolized by the bright but deadly apple that ultimately causes the foe’s demise.
• The Nature of Revenge
• Revenge is central to “A Poison Tree,” depicted through the culmination of the speaker’s suppressed anger in the form of a poisoned apple. The foe’s act of stealing the apple and subsequent death illustrates the ultimate triumph of vengeance. However, the speaker’s “gladness” at the sight of the foe’s demise (“In the morning glad I see; / My foe outstretched beneath the tree”) adds a layer of moral ambiguity. While the speaker attains a sense of satisfaction, the underlying tone critiques the corrosive nature of revenge, emphasizing its capacity to harm both the victim and the avenger.
• Moral and Spiritual Corruption
• In “A Poison Tree,” Blake examines the spiritual consequences of harboring negative emotions and acting deceitfully. The tree, which symbolizes the speaker’s growing wrath, becomes a metaphor for moral decay. The “apple bright” not only references biblical allusions to temptation and original sin but also embodies the corrupting influence of suppressed anger and vengeance. The foe’s death beneath the tree symbolizes the ultimate spiritual and moral downfall caused by the speaker’s inability to resolve anger constructively. Blake’s poem serves as a moral allegory, urging readers to reflect on the importance of emotional honesty and forgiveness.

Literary Theories and “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

Literary Theory	Application to “A Poison Tree”	References from the Poem
Psychoanalytic Theory	Focuses on the unconscious mind, repressed emotions, and the destructive impact of unresolved anger.	“I told it not, my wrath did grow” symbolizes the suppression of anger and its growth into a dangerous force, reflecting Freud’s ideas of the unconscious mind.
Moral/Didactic Theory	Examines the poem as a moral lesson about the consequences of anger and deceit.	The poem serves as an allegory, teaching that “I told my wrath, my wrath did end” demonstrates the value of emotional honesty, while the tree’s growth warns of suppression.
Structuralism	Analyzes the binary oppositions and underlying structure of meaning in the poem.	Contrasts such as “friend” vs. “foe” and “told my wrath” vs. “told it not” create a structural framework for understanding the consequences of anger.
Reader-Response Theory	Emphasizes the reader’s interpretation and emotional reaction to the themes of anger, revenge, and morality.	The vivid imagery of “Till it bore an apple bright” and “My foe outstretched beneath the tree” invites varied emotional and ethical interpretations from readers.

Critical Questions about “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

• What does “A Poison Tree” reveal about the consequences of suppressed emotions?
• “A Poison Tree” by William Blake emphasizes the destructive nature of repressed emotions. The line “I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow” shows how withholding feelings leads to their intensification, symbolized by the growing tree. As the suppressed anger is “waterd… in fears” and “sunned… with smiles,” it develops into a potent force, ultimately manifesting in the deadly apple. The poem illustrates that concealed emotions can fester into harmful outcomes, as seen in the final imagery of the foe “outstretched beneath the tree.” This reinforces the idea that unaddressed anger not only affects the one harboring it but also causes harm to others.
• How does Blake use symbolism to convey the poem’s themes?
• Symbolism is central to “A Poison Tree,” with the growing tree representing suppressed anger and its culmination in revenge. The “apple bright” serves as a symbol of temptation, danger, and the consequences of unresolved conflict, drawing parallels to the biblical story of the forbidden fruit. The “garden” symbolizes the speaker’s mind, where anger is nurtured, while the foe’s act of stealing the apple signifies the culmination of the conflict. Through these symbols, Blake conveys themes of anger, deceit, and revenge, highlighting their potential to corrupt and destroy relationships.
• What moral lesson does the poem offer about anger and communication?
• The poem contrasts two approaches to handling anger, providing a clear moral lesson. In the opening lines, “I was angry with my friend; / I told my wrath, my wrath did end,” Blake suggests that expressing anger openly leads to resolution. Conversely, “I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow” warns against the dangers of silence and suppression. The growth of the tree and its deadly consequences illustrate that unspoken anger can lead to irreversible harm. The poem urges readers to embrace emotional honesty as a means to prevent conflict and maintain healthy relationships.
• How does Blake portray the duality of human emotions in the poem?
• Blake explores the duality of human emotions through the speaker’s contrasting treatment of a friend and a foe. While the friend’s conflict is resolved through open communication, the foe becomes the target of deceit and suppressed anger. The lines “And I sunned it with smiles, / And with soft deceitful wiles” depict the speaker’s hypocritical actions, masking inner malice with outward kindness. This duality reflects the complexity of human nature, where emotions like anger can coexist with calculated deceit, ultimately leading to moral corruption, as seen in the tragic resolution of the poem.

Literary Works Similar to “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

1. “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
   Similarity: Both poems explore dark emotions and the consequences of inner turmoil, with a focus on the destructive impact of unresolved feelings.
2. “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
   Similarity: Like “A Poison Tree,” this poem uses symbolism to convey themes of power, decay, and the eventual consequences of human actions.
3. “The Tyger” by William Blake
   Similarity: Written by the same poet, this poem shares Blake’s exploration of moral and spiritual duality, using vivid imagery and metaphors to probe complex emotions.
4. “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas
   Similarity: Both poems address the intensity of human emotion, with Thomas focusing on defiance and resistance, paralleling Blake’s intensity in expressing anger.
5. “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost
   Similarity: This poem, like “A Poison Tree,” explores destructive emotions, using elemental metaphors (fire for passion and ice for hatred) to depict the consequences of unchecked feelings.

Representative Quotations of “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“I was angry with my friend; / I told my wrath, my wrath did end.”	The speaker resolves anger by communicating openly with a friend.	Moral Theory: Highlights the value of honesty in resolving emotional conflicts.
“I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow.”	The speaker suppresses anger towards a foe, allowing it to intensify.	Psychoanalytic Theory: Reflects Freud’s concept of repression and its destructive consequences.
“And I waterd it in fears, / Night & morning with my tears.”	Describes how suppressed anger is nurtured through anxiety and sorrow.	Emotional Symbolism: Demonstrates the growth of negative emotions when left unaddressed.
“And I sunned it with smiles, / And with soft deceitful wiles.”	The speaker pretends kindness while harboring bitterness.	Deconstruction Theory: Explores the duality between outward behavior and inner emotions.
“And it grew both day and night, / Till it bore an apple bright.”	Anger matures into a deadly symbol, the bright apple.	Symbolism: The apple symbolizes temptation, vengeance, and destructive outcomes.
“And my foe beheld it shine, / And he knew that it was mine.”	The foe recognizes the allure of the speaker’s anger embodied in the apple.	Reader-Response Theory: Invites readers to interpret the apple’s symbolic meaning, such as temptation or revenge.
“And into my garden stole, / When the night had veild the pole;”	The foe enters the speaker’s garden at night, signifying secrecy and betrayal.	Structuralism: Contrasts light and dark, open and concealed, to create tension and foreshadow tragedy.
“In the morning glad I see; / My foe outstretched beneath the tree.”	The speaker observes their foe dead beneath the tree, expressing grim satisfaction.	Moral Ambiguity: Explores the ethical implications of the speaker’s satisfaction with revenge.
“I told it not, my wrath did grow.”	Reiterates the theme of anger growing through suppression.	Existential Theory: Examines the consequences of avoiding responsibility for managing emotions.
“Till it bore an apple bright.”	Symbolizes the fruition of anger in a tangible, destructive form.	Allegorical Perspective: The apple draws parallels to biblical stories, such as the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

Suggested Readings: “A Poison Tree” by William Blake

1. Blake, William, and Matthew Sweeney. A poison tree. ProQuest LLC, 2004.
2. Lefcowitz, Barbara F. “Blake and the Natural World.” PMLA, vol. 89, no. 1, 1974, pp. 121–31. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/461675. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
3. Gallagher, Philip J. “The Word Made Flesh: Blake’s ‘A Poison Tree’ and the Book of Genesis.” Studies in Romanticism, vol. 16, no. 2, 1977, pp. 237–49. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/25600077. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
4. Gallant, Christine. “Blake’s Antislavery Designs for ‘Songs of Innocence and of Experience.'” The Wordsworth Circle, vol. 39, no. 3, 2008, pp. 123–30. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24045762. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.