The Spider And The Fly (Poem)

The Spider and the Fly

Mary Botham Howitt

Warm up

• If your little brother or sister does not like to eat any of these following vegetables
  – How will you make him or her eat them?
  – What are all the flattering or tempting words you might use to convince them?
• Work in pairs and enact that moment in front of your classmates.

Read the poem with your partner while one takes up the role of the Spider and the other the Fly.

The Poem

“Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly,
“’Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve many curious things to show when you are there.”

“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can never come down again.”

“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the Spider to the Fly.
“There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in!”

“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “for I’ve often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!”

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, “Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I’ve always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice;
I’m sure you’re very welcome — will you please to take a slice?”

“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “kind Sir, that cannot be,
I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”

“Sweet creature!” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I’ve a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”

“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you’re pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.”

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
“Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple — there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!”

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue —
Thinking only of her crested head — poor foolish thing!

At last, Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour — but she ne’er came out again!

And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

About the Author

Mary Botham Howitt (1799–1888) was an English poet. She was born at Coleford, in Gloucestershire. She was educated at home and read widely. She commenced writing verses at a very early age. Together with her husband William Howitt, she wrote over 180 books.

Glossary

• parlour (n) – a tidy room in a house used for entertaining guests
• winding (adj) – a twisting movement or course
• weary (adj) – very tired, especially from hard work
• pantry (n) – a room where beverages, food, dishes are stored
• subtle (adj) – delicate or faint and mysterious
• flattering (v) – to praise or compliment insincerely
• counsellor (n) – a person who advises

A. Read the following lines and answer in a sentence or two

1. “The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
   And I’ve many curious things to show when you are there”
   a) How can the fly reach the spider’s parlour?
   b) What will the fly get to see in the parlour?

2. “Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “kind Sir, that cannot be,
   I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”
   a) Is the fly willing to enter the spider’s pantry?
   b) Can you guess what was in the pantry?

3. “Sweet creature!” said the Spider, “You’re witty and you’re wise,
   How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!”
   a) List the words used by the spider to describe the fly.
   b) Why does the spider say that the fly is witty?

4. “The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
   For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:”
   a) Why is the poet using the word ‘den’ to describe the spider’s web?
   b) Why was the spider sure that the fly would come back again?

5. “With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
   Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue —”
   a) Who does ‘she’ refer to?
   b) What was ‘she’ thinking of?

6. “And now dear little children, who may this story read,
   To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed:”
   a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?
   b) What is the advice given to the readers?

B. Complete the summary

Fill in the blanks with suitable words.

The poem begins with the spider’s invitation of the fly. He tempts the fly to come into its home. The spider describes his parlour as the prettiest one. The spider kindles the curiosity of the fly so that she may enter his home. Fortunately, the fly was cautious and refused to get into his home. Now the spider pretends to be a friend and asks her to come and rest in his home. He offers her bed and a mirror to rest. This time also the fly refuses the spider's offer very politely. The next weapon that the spider uses is flattery. The spider praises the wings and eyes of the fly and also praises her wisdom. He invites her to look at herself in the mirror which is in his parlour. The fly is tempted by the words of the spider and she falls a prey to his trap.

C. Answer in 80–100 words

1. Write a character sketch of the spider.
2. What happens if we fall a prey to flattery? Give instances from the poem ‘The Spider and the Fly’.
3. In your own words give a detailed description of:
   a) The Spider’s Parlour
   b) The Fly’s Appearance

Appreciate the Poem

Anthropomorphism

Means to endow a non-human character with human traits and behaviour. Throughout the poem, we see the spider and the fly behave like human beings. We see a pantry, bed, mirror, and stairs and so on.

Figures of Speech

1. Consonance: Repetition of similar consonant sounds in neighbouring words.
   Example: “’Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;”
   Pick out one more instance of consonance from the poem.

2. Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
   Example: “Sweet creature!” said the Spider, “You’re witty and you’re wise,”
   Pick out the words in alliteration.

3. Assonance: Repetition of similar vowel sounds in neighbouring words.
   Example: “’Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;”
   Pick out one more instance from the poem.

4. Anaphora: Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines.
   Example: “How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!”

Listening (Page 208)

Listen to the passage and fill in the blanks.

1. Without trust there is no __.
2. _______ is a very rare thing to find in life.
3. When people betray you learn from the _______.
4. Don’t let _ on the road _____.
5. If we keep moving forward you will have a wonderfully __.

Speaking

E. The cunning spider was waiting for a chance to pull the fly into its web and it used all possible ways to trap her. Have you ever been trapped by flattery to do something you did not want to do? Discuss in pairs and share your experience in the class.

Writing

F. The fly gives in to flattery and becomes the spider’s prey. If you are asked to give a happy ending to the poem, how will you save the fly? Write in your own words.

Read and Enjoy

Never Trust a Mirror

Erin Hanson

Never trust a mirror,
For a mirror always lies,
It makes you think that all you’re worth,
Can be seen from the outside,
Never trust a mirror.

It only shows you what’s skin deep,
You can’t see how your eyelids flutter,
When you’re drifting off to sleep,
It doesn’t show you what the world sees,
When you’re only being you,
Or how your eyes just light up,
When you’re loving what you do,

It doesn’t capture when you’re smiling,
Where no one else can see,
And your reflection cannot tell you,
Everything you mean to me,

Never trust a mirror,
For it only shows your skin,
And if you think that it dictates your worth,
It’s time you looked within.

Practice Practice Exercises

a) How can the fly reach the spider’s parlour?

b) What will the fly get to see in the parlour?

a) Is the fly willing to enter the spider’s pantry?

b) Can you guess what was in the pantry?

a) List the words used by the spider to describe the fly.

b) Why does the spider say that the fly is witty?

a) Why is the poet using the word ' den ' to describe the spider’s web?

b) Why was the spider sure that the fly would come back again?

a) Who does ‘she’ refer to?

b) What was ‘she’ thinking of?

a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?

b) What is the advice given to the readers?

The poem begins with the spider’s of the fly. He to the fly to come into its home. The spider describes his parlour as the one. The spider kindles the curiosity of the fly so that she may enter his home. Fortunately, the fly was and refused to get into his home. Now the spider pretends to be a and asks her to come and rest in his home. He offers her and a to rest. This time also the fly the spider's offer very politely. The next weapon that the spider uses is . The spider praises the and of the fly and also praises her . He invites her to look at herself in the which is in his parlour. The fly is by the words of the spider and she falls a to his .

1. Write a character sketch of the spider.

2. What happens if we fall a prey to flattery? Give instances from the poem 'The Spider and the Fly’.

a) The Spider’s Parlour

b) The Fly’s Appearance

”Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!”

“Sweet creature!” said the Spider, “You’re witty and you’re wise,”

1. Without trust there is no

2 is a very rare thing to find in life.

3. When people betray you learn from the

4. Don’t let on the road .

5. If we keep moving forward you will have a wonderfully ..