Wrath Analysis Prompt and Rubric
Literature Analysis
Wrath's Harvest
William Blake's "A Poison Tree" Essay Prompt
Name:
Date:
Period:
A Poison Tree
By William Blake (1794)
1I was angry with my friend;
2I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
3I was angry with my foe:
4I told it not, my wrath did grow.
5And I waterd it in fears,
6Night & morning with my tears:
7And I sunned it with smiles,
8And with soft deceitful wiles.
9And it grew both day and night.
10Till it bore an apple bright.
11And my foe beheld it shine,
12And he knew that it was mine.
13And into my garden stole,
14When the night had veild the pole;
15In the morning glad I see;
16My foe outstretchd beneath the tree.
The Assignment
Analytical Open Response
Essay Prompt
Analyze how the growth of the poison tree represents nurtured anger in William Blake’s poem.
How does the poet use this central botanical metaphor to illustrate the psychological and literal consequences of unexpressed wrath?
Requirements
- Formulate a clear thesis statement connecting metaphor to theme.
- Integrate at least two direct quotes from the poem.
- Cite evidence with parenthetical line numbers (e.g., Blake 4).
- Structure your essay with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Refer to page 2 of this packet to view the 10-Point Rubric before drafting.
Essay Draft Starter
Begin drafting your thesis statement and introductory sentence below:
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Evaluation Standard
10-Point Analytical Rubric
William Blake's "A Poison Tree" Essay Scoring Guide
Total Value 10 pts
| Criteria | Excellent | Proficient | Developing | Pts |
|---|
| | | | |
| Focus & Thesis | | | | |
Clear claim about anger & metaphor.
| 2 pts Thesis is specific and clearly links nurtured anger to the growth of the tree. | 1.5 pts Thesis is present and identifies the metaphor, but lacks depth. | 1 pt Thesis is missing, vague, or merely summarizes the plot. | / 2 |
|
Textual Evidence
Quotes & parenthetical citations.
| 3 pts Includes at least 2 relevant quotes, correctly cited with line numbers. | 2 pts Includes 2 quotes, but one may be weakly aligned or cited incorrectly. | 1 pt Only 1 quote used, or evidence lacks academic citations. | / 3 |
|
Analysis & Metaphor
Explaining the botanical imagery.
| 3 pts Insightfully analyzes how "tears," "fears," and "smiles" feed internal anger. | 2 pts Explains quotes and metaphor but relies partially on plot summary. | 1 pt Superficial interpretation. Fails to connect the metaphor to wrath. | / 3 |
|
Structure & Style
Transitional phrases and flow.
| 2 pts Logical intro, body, and conclusion with smooth academic transitions. | 1.5 pts Structured, but transitions feel abrupt or the ending is slightly abrupt. | 1 pt Lacks cohesive flow. Ideas are disjointed or difficult to track. | / 2 |
Grade Conversion
- 10 / 10 (100%) A+
- 9.0 - 9.5 / 10 A / A-
- 8.0 - 8.5 / 10 B
- 7.0 - 7.5 / 10 C
- 6.0 - 6.5 / 10 D
- < 6.0 / 10 F
Teacher Evaluator Comments
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Wrath Analysis Graphic Organizer and Rubric
Scaffolded Planning
Wrath's Harvest
Essay Organizer & Rubric Checklist
Name:
Date:
Period:
Pre-Writing Mission
Before writing your essay, use this structured organizer to develop a solid thesis, gather strong quotes from Blake's poem, and explain how the botanical growth of the tree acts as a metaphor for silent, destructive anger.
1 Step 1: Constructing Your Thesis Statement
A strong thesis should state the poem's author, the title, your main claim about what the "poison tree" represents, and what the consequences of unexpressed anger are. Try using the scaffold formula below:
Formula: In William Blake's poem "A Poison Tree", the central metaphor of the growing tree represents how unexpressed wrath is [how is anger treated?], which ultimately harvests [what is the deadly result?].
Write Your Completed Thesis Statement Here:
2 Step 2: Hunting for Textual Evidence (Quote 1)
Select a line or quote from the first half of the poem (Stanzas 1 or 2) that describes the early nurturing or feeding of anger.
Direct Quote & Line Number(s)
"I waterd it in fears..." (Blake, Line ____)
Analysis: How does this quote demonstrate the "nurturing" or "watering" of anger?
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Scaffolded Planning
Wrath's Harvest
Evidence & Score-Multiplier Rubric Checklist
Planning Packet
3 Step 2 Continued: Quote 2 (The Harvest / Consequences)
Select a quote from the second half of the poem (Stanzas 3 or 4) showing the results of unexpressed anger (the apple growing, the foe's defeat).
Direct Quote & Line Number(s)
"Till it bore an apple bright..." (Blake, Line ____)
Analysis: How does this show the deadly outcome of keeping anger secret and unresolved?
4 Step 3: Score-Multiplier Self-Checklist (10 Points)
Use this criteria tracker to verify your essay draft hits all components evaluated by the 10-point rubric.
Analytical Criteria
Pre-Writing Checkpoints (Self-Assessment)
Weight
Focus & Thesis
I named the author (William Blake) and poem ("A Poison Tree"). I connected unexpressed wrath directly to the metaphorical tree.
2 Points
Textual Evidence
I picked two exact direct quotes from the text. I cited line numbers properly in parentheses (e.g., Line 4).
3 Points
Analysis & Depth
I analyzed metaphors of watering (fears) & sunning (smiles). I avoided basic summary; I explained *how* anger grows.
