The poem uses 'winding stair' metaphorically for the path (web) into the spider's parlour; the spider promises various 'curious things' and later specifically a looking-glass to tempt the fly.
a) The fly can reach the spider's parlour by going up a winding stair (the spider's web). b) The fly is told she will see many curious things in the parlour — the spider's pretty room and its curiosities, including a looking-glass.
The fly's refusal shows caution; the 'pantry' implies food/traps prepared by the spider to catch insects.
a) No — the little Fly refuses to enter the spider's pantry. b) The pantry likely contains the spider's prey and traps (danger, food meant to lure and capture the fly).
The spider's adjectives are flattering phrases intended to manipulate the fly into entering his parlour.
a) The spider calls the fly 'sweet creature', 'witty', 'wise', praises her 'gauzy wings' and 'brilliant eyes'. b) The spider flatters the fly by calling her witty to gain her trust and lure her into the parlour; the word is used as part of flattery, not as sincere praise.
Den = secret trap; spider's confidence comes from knowing flattery will tempt the vain, curious fly.
a) 'Den' suggests a hidden lair where the spider waits to ambush prey; it emphasizes danger and the spider's predatory nature. b) The spider was sure the fly would return because he had flattered her and tempted her curiosity and vanity, so he knew his words would lure her back.
Context makes clear 'she' is the fly; the line shows her vanity and preoccupation with appearance.
a) 'She' refers to the little fly. b) She was thinking only of her brilliant eyes and her green-and-purple colouring (her own beauty), not of any danger.
The narrator warns readers (especially children) against trusting flattering speech that conceals harmful intentions.
a) 'I' refers to the poet/narrator. b) The advice is to ignore idle, silly flattering words and not be misled by flattery.
Character points: cunning, deceptive, flattering, patient, manipulative, selfish; supported by his repeated polite invitations and flattery in the poem.
The spider is cunning, deceitful and patient. He lures the fly by polite words and false kindness, carefully using praise and temptation to hide his real intention. He is manipulative — skilled at flattery and acting friendly — and he plans his trap deliberately, confident that his compliments will draw the fly back. Though polite in speech, his motive is selfish: to catch and devour the fly. The spider represents hypocrisy and the danger of trusting smooth words from someone with hidden, cruel aims.
Uses poem examples: spider's repeated compliments, offering a looking-glass, fly's vanity leading her to approach the trap and be captured.
If we fall prey to flattery we may be deceived and harmed. In the poem the spider flatters the fly—calling her witty and praising her wings and eyes—so she grows curious and vain. He even offers a looking-glass to tempt her vanity. Although the fly initially refuses, the spider's continued praise makes her forget caution; she approaches the parlour and becomes trapped. The poem shows that flattering words can mask malicious intent and lead to ruin when they make us ignore danger.
Parlour: attractive but deceptive setting (web, winding stair, curios, looking-glass). Fly: attractive physical features (gauzy wings, brilliant eyes, green/purple hue) and vain disposition.
a) The spider's parlour is described as a pretty, inviting room reached by a winding stair (metaphor for the web). It is full of 'curious things' and even has a looking-glass on the shelf—an alluring, cosy-seeming place that hides a deadly trap. b) The fly is small and colourful with 'gauzy wings' and 'brilliant eyes' of green and purple hue; she is delicate and attracted to her own beauty, which the spider exploits with compliments and the promise of a mirror.
Filled blanks with context-appropriate words from the poem: invitation, invites, prettiest, wary, friend, comfort/seat, refused, flattery, wings and eyes, wit, looking-glass, tempted, victim, flattery.
The poem begins with the spider's invitation of the fly. He invites 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 wary and refused to get into his home. Now the spider pretends to be a friend and asks her to come and rest in his home. He offers her comfort and a seat to rest. This time also the fly politely refused the spider's offer. The next weapon that the spider uses is flattery. The spider praises the wings and eyes of the fly and also praises her wit. He invites her to look at herself in the looking-glass which is in his parlour. The fly is tempted by the words of the spider and she falls a victim to his flattery.
Both words begin with the 'p' sound, creating alliteration.
prettiest, parlour
The repeated 'n' (and the 'r') sound in 'near' and 'nearer' is an example of consonance.
"near and nearer drew" — repetition of the 'n' consonant sound in 'near' and 'nearer'.
The vowel sound in 'Sweet' and the first syllable of 'creature' creates assonance.
"Sweet creature" — repetition of the long 'ee' vowel sound (assonance).
Common moral statement: trust is essential for friendship or relationship; 'friendship' completes the sentence meaningfully.
friendship
Completes the moral idea that genuine trust is uncommon; fits the lesson of the poem.
Trust is a very rare thing to find in life.
Corrected sentence: "When people betray you, learn from the experience." (Fill the blank with 'experience' — meaning learn the lesson from that event.)
experience.
"Don't let small bumps in the road throw you back."
"Don't let small bumps in the road throw you back."
"a wonderfully fulfilling life"
"a wonderfully fulfilling life"
Give a brief personal example. State what happened, how the flattery was used, how you responded (refused, questioned, or accepted), and what you learned (be cautious, verify intentions, trust actions over words). Keep it 2–3 sentences for class sharing.
Sample response: Yes. Once a classmate praised my homework to persuade me to lend my answers; I felt uncomfortable. I politely refused and explained I couldn't help. Later I realized the praise was only to get what they wanted, so I learned to be cautious about sudden flattery.
Create a short, positive resolution: either the fly escapes by cleverness or help arrives (wind, bird, insect friend), and the spider learns a lesson. Keep the ending simple, moral, and optimistic so it fits as a 'happy ending' for the poem.
Sample happy ending: Just as the spider prepared to feast, a gust of wind shook the web. The fly, remembering a warning from a friendly bee, feigned death to lure the spider away. When the spider relaxed, the fly used a loose thread to swing down and escape. The spider, surprised and ashamed of its trickery, vowed never to flatter another to capture them. The fly flew home wiser and cautious of sweet words.