Comparative Analysis of 'A Poison Tree' and 'The Odyssey' Poems

This essay provides a comparative analysis of William Blake's poem 'A Poison Tree' and Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey'. The essay explores the central theme of anger and its consequences, examining how the suppression of anger leads to negative outcomes. It discusses the contrasting yet interconnected narratives, highlighting how 'The Odyssey' reflects the themes presented in 'A Poison Tree' through Odysseus's experiences with anger, revenge, and the impact of suppressed emotions. The analysis delves into the moral of 'A Poison Tree' regarding the dangers of concealed wrath and the manifestation of this concept within the context of 'The Odyssey'. The essay also references key scholarly sources to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive understanding of the poems' themes and their interrelation.

1"A POISON TREE" AND "THE ODYSSEY"
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"A POISON TREE" AND "THE ODYSSEY"
The epic poem ‘The Odyssey’ written by Homer is a story of Odysseus and his ten-year
struggle to return home after the Trojan War. The poem ‘A Poison Tree’ written by William
Blake is not only about anger but also about the suppression of anger. In this paper, the main aim
is to compare and contrast between the two poems. The paper will discuss the ideas that are
obtained from both the poems in order to carry out the compare and contrast.
The epic poem of Homer is the story of the Greek hero Odysseus who is a clever, brave
warrior and he is credited with the idea for the Trojan Horse. The Odyssey has several profound
themes including love and devotion, home, wandering and fidelity, cunning and disguise, the
power of God, Odysseus’s character flaws and revenge. Love and devotion are prominent themes
in the poem and probably it is the greatest love that Penelope has for Odysseus. She remains
faithful to him regardless of the many obstacles during his twenty-year absence. Also, the love
for family that Odyssey is a dominant theme in the poem. However, unlike Penelope, Odysseus
fails to remain faithful. The theme of gender has been developed by Homer as well by examining
the differences between women and men. According to men, they assume all the positions of

power and for women who are intelligent like Penelope are capable of holding their own rather
than taking steps in distress.
The poem ‘A Poison Tree’ argues that similar to a tree, anger grows if it is suppressed.
When a person making an effort to hide their emotions, denies it or suppresses it, it is likely to
become vengeful and poisoned with bitterness. Although it looks simple to figure out the theme
of the poem and often identified as anger, it is not. Rather, the theme lies in the ways suppressing
a person’s anger can lead to more anger than it was before. The poet presents an allegory that is
similar to an Old Testament Christian allegory that involves the Garden of Eden story that
reveals his themes of self-restraint, forbearance and moderation. William Blake’s poem revolves
around the subject of anger. The speaker in the poem shows his friend that he is angry and his
anger dissipates. However, when the speaker hides his rage from his enemy, it grows like a tree.
In the poem, the apple is used as a symbol of poison. According to the final line, the poem tells
the outcome of the suppressing anger.
The two poems are certainly different than one another however they do have a common
theme between, the anger. According to Lamberton and Keaney (pp 84) , the Odyssey is an epic
poem of ancient Greece in the wake of the Trojan War. Both the poems are primarily serious in
tone and mood, although The Poison Tree is almost furtive tone. In the Odyssey, the
protagonist’s life events show the way one can be affected by anger. Odysseus was a smart,
decisive leader who was prone to making a mistake. He fell prey to temptation which was his
biggest mistake which eventually leads the story about revenge. Therefore, when compared with
A Poison Tree, it can be observed that the main theme of A Poison Tree is reflected in the
Odyssey.

According to Damrosch (pp- 84) The Poison Tree is a poem of four sets of rhyming
couplets. The moral of the poem is as discussed is that hidden wrath that slowly becomes
dangerous behind the deceit hiding it from it. The anger that produces dangerous results can be
manifested with the story of Odyssey. It is not surprising that The Odyssey is broadly framed
under the revenge story where the odyssey slaughter the suitors who were vying to take over
Odyssey’s estate in his absence. The anger that was being suppressed by Odysseus for years and
the emotion of missing home and his wife that was held by him for years resulted in a frightful
result.
In the end, it can be concluded that although the two poems have a different story and a
different message to convey, it can be linked. In one poem, The Poison Tree, the moral is that
individuals should not suppress their anger as it will grow like trees and may have a dreadful
result. The moral of The Poison Tree is manifested through the story of Odysseus. The primary
link between the two poems is the subject of anger and the impact of anger when suppressed.

References:
Damrosch Jr, Leopold. Symbol and truth in Blake's myth. Vol. 871. Princeton University Press,
2014.
Lamberton, Robert, and John J. Keaney, eds. Homer's Ancient Readers: The Hermeneutics of
Greek Epic's Earliest Exegetes. Vol. 5402. Princeton University Press, 2019. Pp- 54-198