Poison tree

• What emotion is expressed in the line "I was angry with my foe"?

  Anger
• What does the phrase "my wrath did grow" imply about the speaker's feelings?

  The speaker's anger intensified over time
• What does the phrase "bore an apple bright" suggest?

  A bright apple was carried or held
• What does "my foe outstretch’d beneath the tree" indicate about the foe's position?

  The foe is lying or resting under a tree
• What does "I watered it in fears" imply about the speaker's actions?

  The speaker nurtured the apple with fear
• What is the main theme of the ballad discussed?

  • Emotions should be expressed, not suppressed
• What is the structure of the poem described in the study material?

  • Composed of 4 quatrains
  • Uniform and controlled
  • Alternates between trochaic and iambic meter
  • AABB rhyme scheme
• How does the AABB rhyme scheme contribute to the poem?

  It creates a simple structure for complex messages
• How does the poem mimic a nursery rhyme?

  • Tells a simple message
  • Uses a complex story