Read the poem.

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.

Question 1
Part A

What can be inferred about the speaker's feelings toward his foe?


The speaker keeps his anger inside until it erupts into violence.

The speaker's anger toward his foe becomes toxic and poisons the speaker's mind.

The speaker becomes indifferent to his foe and moves on.

The speaker chooses to get past his anger and forgives his enemy.
Question 2
Part B

Which lines from the poem best support the answer in Part A?


"And I watered it in fears / Night and morning with my tears,"

"In the morning, glad, I see / My foe outstretched beneath the tree."

I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow."

"And I sunned it with smiles / And with soft deceitful wiles."