10
-NiE ,
9 AUGUST 2017
ADVANCED
Before anger turns deadly
Poem
A Poison Tree I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow. And I watered it in fears, 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; And my foe beheld it shine, And he knew that it was mine,
WILLIAM BLAKE’S poem depicts the possible harm that people who hold on to anger can cause. In the first stanza of the poem, the persona talks about how he resolved a situation with his friend after they had straightened things out. However, in a situation with another person (whom he considers a foe), the persona chose to remain silent about his anger. This caused feelings of resentment and bitterness to grow deep within him. He put on a false front, pretending all was well. He then planned for revenge, which ended with his unsuspecting foe being destroyed in the end.
NiE Activity 1
And into my garden stole When the night had veiled the pole: In the morning glad I see My foe outstretched beneath the tree. – By William Blake
Critical thinking ● Identify
● Reason
Problem solving
Creative thinking ● Imagine ● Brainstorm
● Connect
● Question
Communicating
● Present
● Oral ● Written
● Aural
Collaborating ● Listen
● Attain goal
● Contribute respectfully
In the morning glad I see My foe outstretched beneath the tree. In the last two lines, the persona is pleased to find that his plan to destroy his foe has succeeded. How long do you think this feeling of “gladness” will last? What do you think is the best way to deal with someone who has caused you hurt? In groups of four, look for an article from The Star
depicting a situation where a person (or persons) has caused harm to another person. Cut it out and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. Discuss how the victim(s) should deal with the situation. Write brief notes on the same paper and take turns to present in class.
NiE Activity 2
NiE Activity 3
Critical thinking ● Organise
● Imagine ● Connect ● Brainstorm
Communicating
Collaborating
● Identify
● Oral
Creative thinking
● Written
● Listen ● Contribute respectfully
The Star’s SMS Your Views column is for readers to comment on current issues and topics. Imagine that A Poison Tree was published in The Star by the persona of the poem. In groups of four, create a text message of not more than 140 characters, in response to his post. Write it down on a sticky note and then paste it on the classroom noticeboard. Take turns to view all the comments.
● Attain goal
Problem solving ● Question
● Recreate
Critical thinking ● Identify
● Reason
Creative thinking ● Imagine
● Connect
Problem solving ● Question
● Recreate
A symbol is a literary device that writers sometimes use to convey concepts, ideas or meanings that are not obvious. It is also used to represent something else like a mood or emotion that can’t be shown. In A Poison Tree, the apple is used as a symbol to represent the persona’s unresolved anger and bitterness, which resulted in the destruction of his foe. Imagine that the persona decided to confront his foe and resolve the matter in a peaceful way. What symbols could he use as a gesture of reconciliation? In groups of four, look for an object from The Star to represent this gesture. Cut it out and paste it on a sheet of A4 paper. Write down a description for it. Finally, display your work on one side of the classroom walls to form a Wall of Peace.
EXAMPLE
Communicating ● Oral
● Aural
Collaborating ● Listen ● Contribute respectfully
● Attain goal