Question 15 • CA-English Language Arts 12 B – 1744
Read the poem entitled "The 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 fearsNight and morning with my tears,And I sunned it with smilesAnd 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 stoleWhen the night had veiled the pole;In the morning, glad, I seeMy foe outstretched beneath the tree.
Answer
A
Blake uses images of plants to show nature’s bounty.
B
Blake reveals emotions being cultivated like a garden.
C
Blake presents ripe fruit to question the duration of beauty.
D
Blake explains the planting process to suggest man’s hard work.
Explanation
Blake compares the speaker’s growing anger to a plant being tended in a garden. The speaker waters it with fears and tears and nourishes it with smiles and deceit, until it bears an apple. This shows emotions being deliberately cultivated, so the best choice is “Blake reveals emotions being cultivated like a garden.”
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.