Blake: Songs of Experience: A Poison Tree: Flashcards
Plot summary:
What is the plot summary?
The poem describes how the speaker’s repressed anger, instead of being expressed, grows secretly and becomes poisonous.
The anger takes the form of a tree with a tempting fruit, which the speaker’s friend eats, leading to the friend’s death.
The poem highlights the dangers of holding in anger and the destructive consequences it can have.
Key Quotes:
What are the key quotes? (THERE ARE 4)
‘Mind forged manacles I hear’ - implying that mental oppression and psychological restrictions are self-imposed or ingrained by societal indoctrination, not just physical restraints by the church. People need to take control of themselves.
‘Black’ning church (…) blood down palace walls’ - suggests corruption and hypocrisy within religious institutions, which fail to protect society’s vulnerable and contribute to the city’s moral decay. Also suggests the hidden violence and suffering caused by the monarchy and government, representing the sacrifices of the common people for the benefit of the elite.
‘Midnight streets (…) youthful harlot’s curse’ - a sense of isolation and secrecy, amplifying despair. It represents the darker side of society becoming more visible. The “youthful harlots” symbolise women forced into prostitution due to poverty and lack of opportunities. Midnight also symbolises a new start however, there is a continuation of suffering.
‘Plagues the marriage hearse’ - oxymoron - links marriage with death, symbolising the decay of sacred institutions and the corruption of love by societal ills, such as disease, poverty, and moral decay.
Form/Structure:
What is the form and structure?
The poem is structured in four quatrains with an AA BB rhyme scheme.
The regular and predictable form contrasts with the growing danger of the speaker’s hidden anger, emphasising how repressed emotions can build up and lead to destructive outcomes.
Key Themes:
What are the key themes e.g. the dangers of repression.
Blake warns against suppressing negative emotions. The speaker’s choice to conceal their anger leads to the creation of something dangerous, symbolised by the poisonous tree and the fruit.
Key Themes:
What are the key themes e.g. anger and resentment
The poem explores how unexpressed anger, when not dealt with, can grow and become toxic.
The speaker hides their anger, allowing it to fester and ultimately cause harm.
Context:
What is the context for this poem?
The poem reflects Blake’s critique of societal and religious repression of natural emotions, especially anger.
The poem explores how repressed feelings can grow into something harmful and destructive.
It aligns with Romantic ideals, emphasizing individual emotion and the consequences of suppressing feelings.
Other poems it could link to:
What other poems could this link to?
“The Garden of Love” (SOE) – Both critique repression and societal control.
“The Tyger” (SOE) – Both examine the destructive power of hidden or suppressed emotions.
“Holy Thursday” (SOE) – Both highlight institutional hypocrisy and the consequences of unchecked forces.
