iQ1.} What is the moral lesson conveyed by the poet in her poem The Spider and the Fly? c The poem The Spider and the Fly is basically a fable. A fable is a short narrative form, usually featuring animals who behave and speak like humans. The fable is told in order to bring to light the human follies and weaknesses. A didactic lesson is woven into the story which is displayed at the end. This poem too, is didactic in nature as it warns us against the duplicitous men who ensnare and entice us with their pleasing words. The poem was primarily written for the children to caution them to stay away from the distrustful humans. They should pay attention and not fall prey to the manipulative flatterers. The poet is trying to teach a lesson to her readers and she uses the story of the spider and the fly to convey it. One should not be lured into temptation and succumb to flattery. ‘The fable is about a fly who gets tempted by the flattery of the cunning spider and gets trapped into the intricate web. The spider welcomes the fly to visit his parlour. Uc tempts her by saying that the way into his parlour is through a spiral stair where there are many things worth looking at. He wants her to sce all the ‘pretty things’ his parlour consists of. The fly, comprehending the avaricious motive of the wicked spider, declines the offer saying that she is aware of the fact that whoever gocs his way up his ‘winding stairs’, never comes down again . Realising the exhaustion of the fly, the spider cunningly advises her to lie down on his little bed and be at leisure. He entices her by saying that the room is decorated with ‘pretty curtains’ and moreover the ‘sheets’ are exquisite and dainty. The fly refuses to bask in the warmth of the room and declines his offer again. ‘The spider is persistent in his mission and does not lose patience. He continues to impress the fly by repeatedly welcoming her into his parlour. He asks her to relax on his ‘little bed’ as she looks ‘weary’. He says that his walls are embellished with ‘pretty curtains’ and the bed sheets look ‘fine and thin’, The spider says: “And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in.” However, he fails to captivate the fly this time too, as she clearly turns down his evil offer. She says she has heard that whoever sleeps on his bed, never sees the dawn again, ‘The spider showers on the fly insincere love and praise. He addresses her as his ‘dear friend’. He again tries to lure her by mentioning about the delicacies in the pantry. He says:‘L bave within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice;’ and tries to take her in. When the fly rejects this offer again, the spider praises her intelligence and Appreciating her beauty, he says: “How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!” He asks her to come and admire her own beauty in his ‘little looking-glass’ in the parlour. When the fly turns round and goes away, the spider is confident of the effect of his flattery. He knows the fly will soon return. He weaves a web in ‘one corner of his den and prepares the table to dine upon the fly. He praises her profusely in the following song: “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.” This was enough for the foolish fly to come with her buzzing wings, forgetting all the consequences of her ignorant action. She comes close to the spider's web and is dragged heiplessly into his ‘dismal den’. The message conveyed by the poem is pointedly clear. She clearly warns us about the consequences of trusting a stranger. We should never trust the strangers ‘with dubious behaviour and actions. Despite knowing the dangers, the fly enters the spider's web and never comes back from there.The poet warns us against such evil counsellors who win the beguiling people using ‘idle, silly, flattering words’ to achieve their own purpose. ‘How does the spider finally succeed in captivating the fly? Comment on the tragic end of the fly. EGS the pocm The Spider and the Fly shows how the cunning and wicked spuder finally succeeds in captivating the fiy in his intricate web. The lengthy poem describes the multiple ways in which the spider attempts to woo the fly in order to pull her into his ‘dismal den’. The feminine fly repeatedly refuses to accept the offers of the spider but finally succumbs to the temptation. Her grim and tragic fate awaits her in the parlour of the spider where she is dragged helplessly and devoured by the hungry spider. ‘The spider painstakingly tries to lure the fly. However, initially he is repeatedly _ turned down by her. The spider asks the fly to visit his parlour which she readily declines. He asks her to take some rest upon his ‘little bed’. The fly, wise enough to understand his wicked motives, politely refuses the offer. He asks her to visit his pantry where there are many nice things to eat and offers her a slice. The fly shows her reluctance to visit the pantry and stays away from entering the parlour.The spider praises her intelligence and wisdom profusely. He ec , ’re wise!” “Sweet creature!’ said the Spider, ‘you're witty and you'r eat Setar deeds dei and praises her ‘gauzy wings’ and ‘brilliant eyes’. He asks her to ee his sean ae to catch a glimpse of her own beauty in the mirror. Compre c ¢ parlour and goes away wicked purpose, the fly restrains herself from entering the parlour g promisir to return some other way iF is ry w 1 arm he has woyen w c 8} is con! f hi tery. He knows th surely entice the fly to come to his den. He weaves a ‘subtle web, in a little corner song, praising the and waits slyly for his prey. Meanwhile, he sings a euphonious song, praising opulent beauty of the fly “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. These words attract the fly in no time. She thinks the praise to be genuine and sincere and goes close towards her tragic end “With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue” As soon as she enters the dark cell of the spider, the fast spider jumps on her holds her with all his strength. Finally, he has succeeded in his mission after so many cfforts. He drags her up his ‘winding stair, into his dismal den’ and the poor helpless creature is never seen again. Though the spider is the wicked flatterer, we canner Completely pronounce the fly to be innocent. Despite knowing about the Probable dangers of entering into the den of the spider, she lets herself be fooled by the sweet, pleasing words. Thus, in a way, she herself, is responsible for her tragic end. What is the central theme of the poem The Spider and the Fly? (The foll wer is t-form. You ce: these poi to frame the whole answer.) © The central theme of the poem The Spider and the Fly revolves around the idea that flattery can prove to be fatal. We must not yield t 'o the melodious words of the manipulative flatterers and stay away from them. * fhe poem was primarily written for the children, to caution them to stay away ftom the strangers and never to trust their flattering wor: ds. The consequences of such an innocent enterprise are tragic and dismal. A flatterer can never be genuine and sincere in his efforts.EB : © The plot revolves around a spider who is hungry and this activates his forces of deceit and he sets out to look for his prey. He at once observes a fly and wants to eat her to satiate his hunger. He employs numerous devices to beguile the fly and trap her in his web. @ The spider invites her to his den, asks her to rest on his little bed and also offers her a slice from her pantry. He does all these to ensnare the helpless creature and finally cat her in his dinner. e The feminine fly resists every offer of the spider. She refuses to visit his parlour and decline his invitation to lie down on his bed. She says she knows what is there in the pantry and so she does not wish to see it © He calls her ‘witty’ and ‘wise’ and praise her delicate wings and bright and shinning eyes. He asks her to admire her own beauty in the ‘little looking glass’ present in his parlour. The fly thanks him for his kind gesture and bids him farewell. She does not fall in any of the spider’s trap. © However, his flattering words move the fly so much that she comes flying near his dark cell with buzzing wings, thinking about her bright eyes, green and purple robes and crested head. Soon, she is dragged and eaten by the spider. The central theme is to convey the idea that the society abounds in materialistic flatterers who will always try to please others in order to take undue advantage of them. We should always be careful of such people.