Analysis of The Spider and The Fly
Mary Howitt 1799 (Coleford) – 1888 (Rome)
"Will you walk into my parlour?" said a spider to a fly;
" 'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many pretty things to shew 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 ne'er come down again."
"I'm sure you must be weary, 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 shall 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 have 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 went 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.
Scheme | AABBXC AADDEE FFGGHH IIJJKK CCAALLEE AAFFMM CCEXAA |
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Poetic Form | |
Metre | 111011101010101 101001010110111 0101110110101 01110101111111 11110101111101 11111101111101 1111110110111 1110111011010101 111010101011101 01111101110110 111101011110111 11010101110111 101010101111111 110101011111 1101110111111 11110101111101 11110101111101 11101100111111 1101010110011 1101111110111 11010101011101 11101101110101 11110111111111 01011101110101 01011101010111 11110101111101 11101010010101 0111010110101 111111101010011 110101011010101 11110101010111 11110101111111 01011101110101 101101001110101 11011101110101 101010101010101 101010101110111 1101010010101 11011101011101 01110101111101 0111010111101 110101001111111 10110100110101 010101111010001 |
Closest metre | Iambic heptameter |
Characters | 2,652 |
Words | 555 |
Sentences | 26 |
Stanzas | 7 |
Stanza Lengths | 6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 6, 6 |
Lines Amount | 44 |
Letters per line (avg) | 45 |
Words per line (avg) | 11 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 282 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 71 |
About this poem
The Spider and the Fly is a poem by Mary Howitt, published in 1829. The first line of the poem is "'Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly." The story tells of a cunning spider who entraps a fly into its web through the use of seduction and manipulation.
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Written on 1829
Submitted by Gr@x on January 18, 2022
Modified on May 04, 2023
- 2:49 min read
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