The Spider And The Fly Poem Lines Explanation Summary TNPSC

THE SPIDER AND THE FLY BY MARY BOTHAM HOWITT - 9 TH ENGLISH POEM LINES, EXPLANATION & SUMMARY PDF FOR GENERAL ENGLISH TNPSC GROUP 2 - 2A 2022 PRELIMINARY EXAM WITH MODEL QUESTIONS & ANSWER PDF#Blog-84

Apr 08, 2022, By Careericons

In this article, we have complied with very important information on the "The Spider and the Fly Poem Written by Mary Botham Howitt" for the current TNPSC Group 2, 2A 2022 Preliminary Examination. Get complete study material for all General English syllabus wise with subject topics which help to clear this preliminary exam 2022.

1. Important Poem Lines in The Spider and the Fly ,
2. Line By Line Simple Explanation & Summary of the poem - The Spider and the Fly, &
3. Where to study information for all other poems.

TNPSC Group-II / IIA Services 2022 New Revised Syllabus (Objective Type Examination)

General English Syllabus-wise Study Materials

SSLC Standard For Preliminary Exam

Before going to the poem, check the prelims syllabus carefully and understand the importance of this poem. Where this poem comes under the "Part - B" of the General English of Revised New Syllabus of TNPSC G2 & 2A Services Examination 2022. Also, check the below links which will be useful for your upcoming examination.

Click Here → To Download TNPSC Group 2 & 2A 2022 - Official Notification PDF** Link

Let us discuss & read the poem The Spider and the Fly written by Mary Botham Howitt (Which is also a peom in Unit - 4 of 9th standard of Tamil Nadu Samacheer Books) in detail with all examples of model questions asked in the previous TNPSC examinations.

Line By Line Stanza-wise Simple Explanation for the poem,
"The Spider and the Fly"

Introduction:

'The Spider and the Fly' by Mary Howitt was published in 1828 with the subtitle, "A Cute Version of a Scary Story." It was first seen by the public in The New Year's Gift and Juvenile Souvenir.

It has appeared in a number of other publications and the full poem was adapted at least three times for cinema. The text has also been used by composers and musicians, including The Rolling Stones.

The poem is contained within seven stanzas that follow a consistent pattern of aabbcc, alternating as the poet saw fit from stanza to stanza. This rhyme scheme is particularly effective because it forms couplets, or sets of two lines. The separation into smaller sections allows a reader to move quickly through the pairs.

Explanation for the Stanza-1:

The syntax of this piece is pretty straightforward. This is due in part to Howitt's intention that this piece is read to or by children. Also, the majority of the lines are made up of dialogue. The two speakers are a spider whose ultimate goal is to attract a fly to its "parlor" and the fly who does her best to resist. In the first line, the spider begins by asking the fly, very nicely, if she will come to the "parlor."

He adds on the enticing detail that it is the "prettiest little parlor." The spider is trying to play down the fear the fly should feel about his lair. It is "little" and pretty—not at all foreboding. From the first line, it is easy to tell that the spider has ulterior motives. A reader will be very aware that nothing good will happen to the fly if she agrees. In order to reach the spider's home, one must go up a "winding stair." Once there, there are curious things to be seen. These two lines make the lair seem somewhat magical, and much more tempting.

Without even pausing to consider the offer the fly says, "no, no." There is no reason, the fly states, to even ask. It knows that those who go up the "winding stair" do not "come down again."

Explanation for the Stanza-2:

The spider is not deterred. He immediately tries another tactic, telling the fly the "parlor" can be a place for her to rest. There are a "little bed" and "pretty curtains" in the room. If she goes there, the spider will be happy to "tuck" her in. In one context these lines are caring and congenial, in another, they are foreboding and malicious. The bed represents certain death for the fly and she knows it.

The fly repeats what it said in the first stanza. She tells the spider there is no way she is going up to his "parlor." The fly knows that those who go to "sleep upon [his] bed" never wake up again.

Explanation for the Stanza-3:

In the third stanza, the spider is starting to show his exasperation. He asks the fly, whom he calls "Dear friend," what he can do for her. He says he has always felt a "warm affection" for her and that all he wants is to share the "good store" of his pantry. Again, there are two different ways these phrases could be taken. The fly might be interested in the offer of the pantry or see through the deception.

Lucky for the fly she is smart enough to know there is nothing good in the pantry. There are things, likely the remains of other insects, that she does "not wish to see!"

Explanation for the Stanza-4:

The spider is still not giving up. He turns to compliment the fly on her "gauzy" or fine and transparent wings. He also calls the fly's eyes "brilliant," trying to get the best of her vanity. The spider offers the use of his "looking glass" or mirror. There, the fly would be able to admire herself more clearly. If she agrees she will be pleased with what she sees.

The fly declines the offer once more, telling the spider thank you for the offer, and the compliments, but they are ineffective. There is a difference in these lines though. It seems as if perhaps the spider's endearments are getting to the fly. She states that she will "call another day," or come back later. While this is still a "no," the refrain of "Oh, no, no" is not present in these lines.

Explanation for the Stanza-5:

The spider takes the fly at her word and goes back into "his den." It is here that he begins to weave his trap. There will be a web subtly hidden in the corner and the table will be set, ready to dine on the visitor. The spider is very confident that all his attempts at luring the fly have finally been successful.

In order to solidify his future meal he goes out and calls once more to the fly. He refers to her as a "pretty fly, with pearl and silver wing." She is coloured "green and purple" with diamond eyes. He compares these features to his own "dull" lead-like eyes. She has a beauty he does not.

Explanation for the Stanza-6:

The speaker expresses her opinion on what happens next with the opening words, "Alas, alas!" Unfortunately, the fly does come back. She is "silly" and "little" and easily taken in by flattering words. The fly comes by "slowly" until she was finally near enough for the spider to jump up and grab her. She was distracted, thinking about her own beauty and all the compliments paid to her. This was her downfall.

The fly is held "fast" by the spider and taken up to what was once described as a pretty parlor. Now though, through the use of alliteration, it is referred to as a "dismal den." Just like she expected, and repeated three times in her refrain, she did not "come out again."

Explanation for the Stanza-7:

The last four lines of the poem wrap up the moral message present in the text. The speaker addresses the "dear little children" who are reading or hearing the poem and tells them to pay no "heed" to flattering words. They are a powerful falsity used by "evil counsellor [s]." One should instead learn from the "tale of the spider and the fly" and keep bad people far from one's "heart and ear and eye."

Conclusion:

The final speech the spider gives flatters the fly's vanity. This does the trick and eventually, she comes back and is eaten by the spider. The poem concludes with the speaker reminding the children reading the text not to pay attention to false words and evil counsellors.

The Spider and the Fly - Poem Summary

'The Spider and the Fly' teaches the reader not to be misled by flattery and be trapped. Here a spider lures a fly to enter its web, upon which he can feast upon her. He invites the little fly to enter its pretty parlour using the winding stairs since there are so many curious things to see there. The fly refuses by saying that whoever enters the parlour can never be freed.

The spider further persuades the fly saying that she must be tired by flying so high and that she can come and take rest in his bed. For this, the fly replies that she has heard that whoever sleeps in his bed never wakes up again. The spider then tries to tempt the fly asking her to come and see his pantry where all nice things are available for her to taste and see.

The fly answers the spider saying I has already heard what is available in your pantry and I am not willing to see them. When all the attempts failed, the spider praises the fly saying that she is very witty and wise, with her gauzy wings and brilliant eyes. He asks her to come and have a look in the mirror that he has in his parlour. For this the fly thanks him and says she will come some other day. The spider knowing that the fly has been flattered, and will surely come to his web, makes ready his table to dine upon the fly.

Then the spider comes out and starts to sing merrily describing the beautiful features of the fly once again comparing it with his. After hearing these words, the fly cannot resist herself from thinking about her beauty and falls into the spider's web. The spider quickly grabs her and traps her in his den from where she never comes out. The poet now asks the little children not to fall a prey to such silly, flattering words and also, never listen to an evil counselor.

The importance of reading this poem "The Spider and the Fly" written by "Mary Botham Howitt" is clearly described in the revised new syllabus as shown below,

1. This poem comes under the "Part-B" of the General English New Revised Syllabus.
2. It's also noticed separately in the "List of Poems". Where it consists of 25 poems & this poem is listed as number 10.

General English Syllabus-Wise Study Materials which includes, Part - B (Poetry)

1. Figures of Speech for The Spider and the Fly (Alliteration – Simile – Metaphor – Personification – Onomatopoeia – Anaphora – Rhyme Scheme – Rhyming Words – Repetition, etc.)
2. Poetry Appreciation for The Spider and the Fly
3. Important Lines for The Spider and the Fly

Source: Official TNPSC Group 2 2A - Syllabus & Notification 2022.

Click Here → To Download TNPSC Group 2 & 2A 2022 - Official Notification PDF** Link

Refer: Read all TNPSC Group 2 & 2A subjects with study materials, Live MCQ test & quiz for all syllabus wise topics.