ANNOTATION FOR
A POISON TREE
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
The poem is an extended metaphor of the title. The allusion to a tree is carried
throughout the poem.
The title can be considered an oxymoron as ‘poison’ has evil and negative
connotations whereas ‘tree’ is associated with themes of strength and growth.
Line 1 is an example of apposition: a statement followed by an explanation set
off by a colon.
Lines 1 and 2 are where the concealed anger begins to escalate.
Line 5 is dichotomic. There is a contradiction between the growth and positivity
associated with ‘watered’ and the negativity associated with ‘fears’.
Line 6 contains temporal nouns, ‘night’ and ‘morning’ which adds continuity
and suggests that the anger has been cultivated over time.
There is contrast between ‘sunned’ as an outward verb in Line 7 and ‘deceitful’
as an adjective relating to being hidden in Line 8.
There is also contrast between the wholly positive tone of Line 7, and the
cunning tone conveyed by ‘deceitful wiles’.
The juxtaposition of ‘deceitful wiles’ enhances the degree of evil the speaker is
harnessing against his enemy. The preceding adjective ‘soft’ implies that the
speaker exudes anger effortlessly and with pleasure.
Line 9 describes that the tree ‘grew both day and night’ which indicates the
persistent power of anger.
Line 10 includes a reference to an ‘apple bright’, a description that aids the
interpretation that anger is dangerous but alluring. The apple is a metaphor for
anger, has fairytale elements (seen in Snow White), has biblical elements (seen
with Adam and Eve), and is a symbol of sin.
Line 12 is an expression of envy from the speaker.
Line 13 contains the past-tense verb ‘stole’, which implies that conflict can
emerge sneakily.
, ANNOTATION FOR
A POISON TREE
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
The phrase ‘night had veiled the pole’ in Line 14 conjures a Romantic image,
with the metaphorical reference to ‘night’ and the ‘pole’ describing the pole
star. This image, as well, suits the theme of deception.
Line 16 contains the phrase ‘my foe outstretched’ implies that anger has
defeated the enemy and that the narrator is happy about this outcome. The
poem is didactic, warning of the destructive nature of harbouring anger.
Line 16 concludes with ‘the tree’ which is a repetition of the title, except now the
tree is referred to with the definite article ‘the’, rather than the indefinite article
‘a’ as used in the title.
, ANNOTATION FOR
ENVY
BY MARY LAMB
This is a didactic poem, intending to teach a moral message about envy. The
vagueness of an abstract noun as a title, suggests the poetry will explain as it
progresses, and it does so in the build up to the last stanza.
This is an example of a Romantic poem, one in which uses the comparison to
nature to convey emotion.
In Line 1, the depiction of the ‘rose-tree’ implies that those that are envious,
retain their own beauty.
The listing of ‘violet blue...lily fair...sweet mignionet’ in Lines 2 and 3, shows that
envy is not specialised. Envy van apply to a variety of things in a variety of ways.
The repetition of ‘fret’ in both Lines 6 and 7 is meant to emphasise futility.
In Line 7, the phrase ‘you would suppose’ engages the reader with a direct
addressal in an attempt to portray the concepts discussed in the poem as
obvious ones. The casual tone used here may make a reader consider the
maturity of envy.
Stanza 2 is somewhat more positive than the first, as Lamb attempts to adapt
the outlook. Multiple phrases throughout indicate that positives can be found in
everything and often go unnoticed, such as the ‘scent’ after a ‘gentle shower’
and that nothing should be able to degrade its self-worth.
The introduction of Stanza 3 and Line 13 with the comparative word ‘like’ gives
an indication that the poem acts as a simile.
The state of being ‘blind’, as referenced in Line 13, considers how envy binds us
to our own self worth.
The first-person used in Line 14, ‘I’ve imagined’, does suggest that the poet has
had a personal experience with envy.
The semantic field of nature includes the following: ‘rose-tree’ (L1), ‘violet blue’,
‘lily fair’ (L2), ‘sweet mignionet’ (L3), ‘tree’ (L4, L13), ‘natural’ (L5), ‘red rose’ (L8),
‘shower’ (L9), ‘rose’s scent’ (L10), ‘pretty flower’ (L12, L17), ‘care and culture’
(L16). This is used by Lamb to symbolise natural envy to try to promote
acceptance of personal talents.
, ANNOTATION FOR
ENVY
BY MARY LAMB
The last line, Line 18, ‘some talent that is rare’ adopts a different rhyme that
therefore imprints in the mind of the reader. It breaks the rhyme scheme
(throughout it has been AABCCB) possibly to encourage breaking the cycle of
envy.
Mary Lamb had a history of mental instability, and therefore it could be
assumed she felt passionately about envy.
A POISON TREE
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
The poem is an extended metaphor of the title. The allusion to a tree is carried
throughout the poem.
The title can be considered an oxymoron as ‘poison’ has evil and negative
connotations whereas ‘tree’ is associated with themes of strength and growth.
Line 1 is an example of apposition: a statement followed by an explanation set
off by a colon.
Lines 1 and 2 are where the concealed anger begins to escalate.
Line 5 is dichotomic. There is a contradiction between the growth and positivity
associated with ‘watered’ and the negativity associated with ‘fears’.
Line 6 contains temporal nouns, ‘night’ and ‘morning’ which adds continuity
and suggests that the anger has been cultivated over time.
There is contrast between ‘sunned’ as an outward verb in Line 7 and ‘deceitful’
as an adjective relating to being hidden in Line 8.
There is also contrast between the wholly positive tone of Line 7, and the
cunning tone conveyed by ‘deceitful wiles’.
The juxtaposition of ‘deceitful wiles’ enhances the degree of evil the speaker is
harnessing against his enemy. The preceding adjective ‘soft’ implies that the
speaker exudes anger effortlessly and with pleasure.
Line 9 describes that the tree ‘grew both day and night’ which indicates the
persistent power of anger.
Line 10 includes a reference to an ‘apple bright’, a description that aids the
interpretation that anger is dangerous but alluring. The apple is a metaphor for
anger, has fairytale elements (seen in Snow White), has biblical elements (seen
with Adam and Eve), and is a symbol of sin.
Line 12 is an expression of envy from the speaker.
Line 13 contains the past-tense verb ‘stole’, which implies that conflict can
emerge sneakily.
, ANNOTATION FOR
A POISON TREE
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
The phrase ‘night had veiled the pole’ in Line 14 conjures a Romantic image,
with the metaphorical reference to ‘night’ and the ‘pole’ describing the pole
star. This image, as well, suits the theme of deception.
Line 16 contains the phrase ‘my foe outstretched’ implies that anger has
defeated the enemy and that the narrator is happy about this outcome. The
poem is didactic, warning of the destructive nature of harbouring anger.
Line 16 concludes with ‘the tree’ which is a repetition of the title, except now the
tree is referred to with the definite article ‘the’, rather than the indefinite article
‘a’ as used in the title.
, ANNOTATION FOR
ENVY
BY MARY LAMB
This is a didactic poem, intending to teach a moral message about envy. The
vagueness of an abstract noun as a title, suggests the poetry will explain as it
progresses, and it does so in the build up to the last stanza.
This is an example of a Romantic poem, one in which uses the comparison to
nature to convey emotion.
In Line 1, the depiction of the ‘rose-tree’ implies that those that are envious,
retain their own beauty.
The listing of ‘violet blue...lily fair...sweet mignionet’ in Lines 2 and 3, shows that
envy is not specialised. Envy van apply to a variety of things in a variety of ways.
The repetition of ‘fret’ in both Lines 6 and 7 is meant to emphasise futility.
In Line 7, the phrase ‘you would suppose’ engages the reader with a direct
addressal in an attempt to portray the concepts discussed in the poem as
obvious ones. The casual tone used here may make a reader consider the
maturity of envy.
Stanza 2 is somewhat more positive than the first, as Lamb attempts to adapt
the outlook. Multiple phrases throughout indicate that positives can be found in
everything and often go unnoticed, such as the ‘scent’ after a ‘gentle shower’
and that nothing should be able to degrade its self-worth.
The introduction of Stanza 3 and Line 13 with the comparative word ‘like’ gives
an indication that the poem acts as a simile.
The state of being ‘blind’, as referenced in Line 13, considers how envy binds us
to our own self worth.
The first-person used in Line 14, ‘I’ve imagined’, does suggest that the poet has
had a personal experience with envy.
The semantic field of nature includes the following: ‘rose-tree’ (L1), ‘violet blue’,
‘lily fair’ (L2), ‘sweet mignionet’ (L3), ‘tree’ (L4, L13), ‘natural’ (L5), ‘red rose’ (L8),
‘shower’ (L9), ‘rose’s scent’ (L10), ‘pretty flower’ (L12, L17), ‘care and culture’
(L16). This is used by Lamb to symbolise natural envy to try to promote
acceptance of personal talents.
, ANNOTATION FOR
ENVY
BY MARY LAMB
The last line, Line 18, ‘some talent that is rare’ adopts a different rhyme that
therefore imprints in the mind of the reader. It breaks the rhyme scheme
(throughout it has been AABCCB) possibly to encourage breaking the cycle of
envy.
Mary Lamb had a history of mental instability, and therefore it could be
assumed she felt passionately about envy.
