Analysing the poem ‘A Poison Tree’ by William Blake
I can explain how Blake uses language, form and structure to explore ideas of conflict.
Analysing the poem ‘A Poison Tree’ by William Blake
I can explain how Blake uses language, form and structure to explore ideas of conflict.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- There are repeated references to both day and night in the poem, illustrating the all consuming nature of emotions.
- The extended metaphor of a tree is used to depict how negative strong emotions can grow.
- The apple grown on the tree could symbolise the speaker’s growing resentment towards their “foe”.
- The rhythm of the poem is straightforward and matter-of-fact, reflecting the everyday nature of these emotions.
- Arguably, the ABAB rhyme scheme has a nursery rhyme feel giving the impression of it as a ‘cautionary tale’.
Keywords
Wrath - intense anger or fury often leading to destructive actions or outcomes
Cautionary tale - a narrative designed to teach a lesson, typically warning against certain behaviours or actions
Rhythm - the pattern of beats or sounds in speech or writing, creating a sense of musicality
Symbolism - the use of concrete objects or actions to represent abstract feelings, ideas or concepts
Extended metaphor - a metaphor that is sustained or developed throughout a piece of writing
Common misconception
The speaker's foe was poisoned by the fruit he grew.
At the beginning of the poem, the speaker seems to imply that the tree is metaphorical since it "grew" from the speaker's anger and resentment so perhaps the death of the "foe" could symbolise another sort of revenge undertaken by the speaker.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Analysing the poem ‘A Poison Tree’ by William Blake, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Analysing the poem ‘A Poison Tree’ by William Blake, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the 'Conflict' unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of ‘A Poison Tree’ by William Blake. This can be found in the Edexcel Poetry Anthology (we will be using the ‘Conflict’ cluster).
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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