Analysis of A Spider and A Fly
Allama Muhammad Iqbal 1877 (Sialkot, Punjab) – 1938 (Lahore, Punjab)
One day a spider said to a fly
'Though you pass this way daily
My hut has never been honored by you
By making a chance visit inside by you
Though depriving strangers of a visit does not matter
Evading the near and dear ones does not look good
My house will be honored by a visit by you
A ladder is before you if you decide to step in
Hearing this the fly said to the spider,
'Sire, you should entice some simpleton thus
This fly would never be pulled into your net
Whoever climbed your net could never step down'
The spider said, 'How strange, you consider me a cheat
I have never seen a simpleton like you in the world
I only wanted to entertain you
I had no personal gain in view
You have come flying from some unknown distant place
Resting for a while in my house would not harm you
Many things in this house are worth your seeing
Though apparently a humble hut you are seeing
Dainty drapes are hanging from the doors
And I have decorated the walls with mirrors
Beddings are available for guests' comforts
Not to everyone's lot do fall these comforts'.
The fly said, 'All this may very well be
But do not expect me to enter your house
'May God protect me from these soft beds
Once asleep in them getting up again is impossible'
The spider spoke to itself on hearing this talk
'How to trap it? This wretched fellow is clever
Many desires are fulfilled with flattery in the world
All in the world are enslaved with flattery'
Thinking this the spider spoke to the fly thus!
'Madam, God has bestowed great honors on you!
Everyone loves your beautiful face
Even if someone sees you for the first time
Your eyes look like clusters of glittering diamonds
God has adorned your beautiful head with a plume
This beauty, this dress, this elegance, this neatness!
And all this is very much enhanced by singing in flight'.
The fly was touched by this flattery
And spoke, 'I do not fear you any more
I hate the habit of declining requests
Disappointing somebody is bad indeed'
Saying this it flew from its place
When it got close the spider snapped it
The spider had been starving for many days
The fly provided a good leisurely meal
| Scheme | XA BB CX BX CD XX XE BB FB GG XX HH AX XX XC EA DB FX XX DX AX XX FX XX |
|---|---|
| Poetic Form | |
| Metre | 110101101 1111110 1111011011 11001100111 10101010101110 010010111111 111110101011 0101011111110 1010111010 101101111 11110110111 01011111011 0101111010101 111010111001 110101011 111100101 111101101101 101010111111 10101111110 1010001011110 101110101 01110001110 1101001110 1110111110 0111111011 11101111011 110111111 101011010110100 010110111011 111111010110 100101011100001 10011011100 10101011011 10110111011 10111001 1011111011 111110110010 110111001101 110111100110 01111010111001 011111100 0111111101 11010101001 010101101 10111111 111101011 01011101101 01010011001 |
| Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
| Characters | 2,086 |
| Words | 399 |
| Sentences | 7 |
| Stanzas | 24 |
| Stanza Lengths | 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 |
| Lines Amount | 48 |
| Letters per line (avg) | 35 |
| Words per line (avg) | 8 |
| Letters per stanza (avg) | 71 |
| Words per stanza (avg) | 17 |
Font size:
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 2:00 min read
- 97 Views
1 fan
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"A Spider and A Fly" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/1558/a-spider-and-a-fly>.
Powered by CITE.ME
Discuss this Allama Muhammad Iqbal poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In