Answer the following questions

A. Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions 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?

Through a winding stair, you can reach the spider's parlour.

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

The fly will get to see curious things.

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?

No, the fly is not willing to enter the parlour.

b. Can you guess what was in the pantry?

No, I cannot 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.

Sweet, witty, wise, handsome, gauzy wings and brilliant eyes.

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

The spider is flattering. So it says 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?

The spider is like a lion in its web. So the poet uses the word.

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

The fly was silly and ignorant. So the spider was sure that the fly would come back again.

5. "With buzzy 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?

' She' refers to the fly.

b. What was ‘she’ thinking of?

She was thinking of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue.

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?

‘I' refer to a poet

b. What is the advice given to the readers?

Never listen to idle, silly flattering words, '' is the advice given to the readers".

B. Complete the summary by filling in the spaces with suitable words.

The poem begins with the spider’s pursuit of the fly. He  chats to 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 wise and refused to get into his home. Now the spider pretends to be a host and asks her to come and rest in his home. He offers her bed and a thin fine sheet 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 wing 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 enticed/ tempted by the words of the spider and she falls a prey to his flattery.

C. Answer the following questions in about 80-100 words.

1. Write a character sketch of the spider.

Poem : The spider and the fly

Author : Mary Botham Howitt (1799-1888)

Character : Spider and fly

Theme : Beware of evil counsellors

The spider is a cunning creature. He tries to invite the fly into his house. He tells the fly about the comforts in his parlour. He wishes to welcome the fly. The spider promises the fly a rest on his bed and treats from his pantry. The fly resists firstly. The spider flatters but the fly fails to resists. The spider praises her eyes, and wings. He offers a mirror to look into. Vanity defeats the fly. She enters the spiders den. The fly is trapped. The poetess tells the readers not to be deceived by '' idle, silly, flattering words. Spider makes fly his prey. Vanity makes the people susceptible to do foolish thing. So people must be aware of others who flatter them only to cheat them.

2. What happens if we fall a prey to flattery? Give instances from the poem

Poem : The spider and the fly

Author : Mary Botham Howitt (1799-1888)

 Character : Spider and fly

 Theme : Look before you leap

Flattery is a deadly weapon to over come the enemies. The poem stress this idea. It is seen in the society. If people who succumb to superficiality, bad things approach them easily. The spider praises the fly excessively. The fly becomes a prey to the flattery of the spider. The spider is able to ' weave a web'. The spider tempts the fly by his praises. Trusting the flattery, the fly gives in to destroy herself. There are people in the society, who yield to the tempting words fall a prey to their enemies. The poet advises the readers not to keep their hearts, eyes and ears open to the evil counsellors.

"All that glitters is not gold"

'The Spider and the Fly’.

3. In your own words give a detailed description of:

a. The Spider’s Parlour

The story "The spider and the fly" tells of a cunning spider who tempts a fly through the use of seduction and flattery. The spider invites the fly to his parlour. The way to the parlour is up a winding stair. It is the prettiest little parlour that the fly had ever spied. There are many curious things. The spider wants to show them to the fly. There is a little bed to rest upon. There are pretty curtains drawn around. The sheets are fine and thin. On the whole the spider's parlour is the best and the prettiest.

b. The Fly’s Appearance

The spider tries to flatter the fly by praising her appearance and inviting her in to look into a mirror. The spider tells the fly that she has pretty gauzy wings and brilliant eyes. The spider further tells the fly is pretty with pearl and silver wing. The fly's robes are green and purple hue. There is a crest upon the fly's head. Her eyes are like the bright diamond. On the whole the fly is elegant and beautiful.

COMMON PARAGRAPH

PARAGRAPH FOR TOPPERS:

Synopsis:

• Introduction

• The spider's invitation

• Call to relax

• Call to accompaniment

• Ready for strike

• Conclusion

Introduction:

"The spider and the fly" is a poem by Mary Howitt published in 1828. Flattery is an excessive praise. Many people fall victim to flattery. The poet calls upon the readers not to give into flatters.

The spider's invitation:

The spider invites the fly to his parlour. He tells her that his parlour is comfortable. He wishes to welcome the fly. His parlour is reached by a winding stair. He will show her many curious things. The fly said one who goes to his parlour never returns.

Call to relax:

The spider calls the fly to rest in his bed. The bed has colourful curtains all around. The bed spreads are thin and fine. 

Call to accompaniment:

The spider changes approach. He was fond of food. He has a good taste for loving pantry and she does not want to see.

Ready for strike:

The spider knows his flattery. He comes out of the web. The songs are in the praise of body and wings. The fly is only thinking of herself. The spider hold his web. At last, the fly meets an end.

Conclusion:

The poet advises the readers of the poem to be careful. The main theme is about honesty and flattery to deceive. The poet wants her poem to be a lesson for children.