1. A Poison Tree
A Story of Revenge

2. Do Now
What is your opinion of poetry? Do you have a favorite poem? If so, which one? Do you have a favorite poet? If so, who?

3. Tone
Tone is the speaker’s attitude toward a subject of a story. Remember, in fiction, the speaker’s and author’s attitudes are NOT always the same.

4. Independent Reading
In front of you, you have a copy of “A Poison Tree” by William Blake. Read through it silently, and look up when you are done.

5. “A Poison Tree” (1794) by William Blake
I was angry at a friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry at a foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears, (5) 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; (10) 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 (15) My foe outstretched beneath the tree. 

6. Surprise! You’re All Artists
I’m going to put you into pairs. Instead of simply paraphrasing this poem line by line as you might usually, you are going to VISUALIZE (draw) the couplets you are assigned. Be prepared to share your drawings and why you made the artistic choices you did to represent the lines.
You have three minutes to paraphrase the lines and create your visual.

7. Pairs
Mayo-Smith, Alexander F. , Brizio, Sara Guarnieri, Olivia R. , Azer, Brandon H. Pecora, Robert F. , Johnson, Madeline E, Daniels, Ariel
Mambrino, Sophia E. , Cottani, Kathleen Spence, Isobel , Takizawa, Shota Norton, Mackenzie J. , Gomez, Andrew G. Kacha, Caroline , Cicchiello, Jack C. Tepedino, William J. , Alvarez-Rivero, Johannes Moore, Stewart L. , Rodriguez, Kaitlyn Weiner, David A., Storey, Nola Mathisson, Samuel Jacob , Dailey, Eleanor

8. “A Poison Tree” (1794) by William Blake Lines 1-2
I was angry at a friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

9. “A Poison Tree” (1794) by William Blake Lines 3-4
I was angry at a foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.

10. “A Poison Tree” (1794) by William Blake Lines 5-6
And I watered it in fears, Night and morning with my tears;

11. “A Poison Tree” (1794) by William Blake Lines 7-8
And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles.

12. “A Poison Tree” (1794) by William Blake Lines 9-10
And it grew both day and night, Till it bore an apple bright;

13. “A Poison Tree” (1794) by William Blake Lines 11-12
And my foe beheld it shine. And he knew that it was mine.

14. “A Poison Tree” (1794) by William Blake Lines 13-14
And into my garden stole When the night had veiled the pole:

15. “A Poison Tree” (1794) by William Blake Lines 15-16
In the morning glad I see My foe outstretched beneath the tree. 

16. How About Them Apples? Is the apple a literal apple? Hatred Plan/idea
Temptation

17. Work Independently…Then Give and Take
Answer the questions on the sheet entitled “Tone, Attitude, & Theme Questions in ‘A Poison Tree’” independently. Then, when you are done, share your answers with your partner.