IMS 103 Assignment Blog

Usually, in ordinary speech, we metaphorically equate anger with fire or dynamite. “He just exploded with rage.” What aspects of anger are highlighted or hidden by the “anger = dynamite” metaphor? Blake offers another metaphor for anger in his poem “A Poison Tree.” What is it? What aspects of anger does Blake’s new metaphor highlight or hide? If Blake’s metaphor informed are ordinary language, what kinds of sentences would we ordinarily say? Write a few.

Aspects of anger that are highlighted by the “anger = dynamite” metaphor that anger is instantaneous, destructive, and anger is expressed via brute force.

Blake expresses anger as a tree in his poem. Anger as a tree is passive, grows much more slowly than anger as dynamite, it’s more possible to control the anger. Blake suggests that anger has to be cultivated to grow. I know I’ve “cultivated” my anger when I hold grudges.

Ordinary sentences we would say if Blake’s anger as a tree metaphor were ordinary language:

• My anger is blossoming.
• My anger is growing.
• My anger is cold.