A Poison Tree

1.   The language in the first stanza is used to –

•    establish that the speaker has few friends and many enemies.

• emphasize the importance of communication in relationships.

• introduce the mood of the poem as happy and carefree.

• highlight the idea that the speaker is a kind and sensitive person.

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

In line 8, the reader can tell that something that is deceitful is –

• tricky or dishonest.

• kind and caring.

• hateful and murderous.

• careless and crude.

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

In the second stanza, what extended metaphor does the speaker continue to develop?

• Smiles, like sunshine, help to build friendships.

• Plants, like people, are always growing.

• Enemies are like friendships because they grow like plants.

• Anger, like a plant, will grow if it is nurtured.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What do the words “And into my garden stole” mean in line 13?

•  

  “And sneaked into my garden”

• “And stole an apple from my garden”

• “And came in to climb the pole”

• “And did damage to my garden”

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What emotion motivates the speaker in this poem?

• uneasiness

• wrath

• affection

• grief

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

Which of these is the best summary of the poem’s theme?

• The speaker is describing his plans to murder his enemy. Death is the ultimate revenge for robbery.

• Emotions, like plants, grow when they are cared for—just like friendship will grow if it is nurtured. Enemies cause distress and should be poisoned to avoid unhappiness.

• The speaker is warning the reader about the danger of unexpressed anger. Anger can become poison to people's minds if allowed to grow

• The speaker is angry with an enemy and learns that gardening is an effective way to control his negative emotions.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

1.  

Bore: v. (past tense of the verb bear)

1. Carried or lifted; 2. Supported or held up; 3. Endured or tolerated; 4. Gave birth to or produced

 

Read the following dictionary definitions for the word bore.

 

 In line 10, the word bore best matches which of the choices?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

The poet most likely chose the symbol of the plant to show that—

• like a plant, anger will grow if it is cultivated.

• many plants are poisonous and can be used to commit murder.

• gardeners can make the best friends but also the worst enemies.

• people should treat their relationships like a gardener treats a garden.

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

In line 14, the words “when the night had veiled the pole” symbolize—

• the idea that traveling at night is preferable to traveling during the day.

• the fact that it’s dangerous to try to sneak around in the dark.

• that light is a positive concept and dark is negative.

• that the North Pole is scary at night.

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What do lines 15 and 16 suggest about the speaker’s attitude toward his foe?

• He is deeply saddened by his enemy’s death.

• He is glad that his enemy stole from his garden.

• He is worried that his enemy is faking his death.

• He does not feel bad that his enemy is dead.

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.10