CLASS-7

Class-7

The Spider and the Fly

Vocabulary

spy – to see

vain-useless or futile

weary –tired

soaring-rise or fly high

snugly –cozy or close fitting

tuck- put in or insert

parlour: a drawing room

 ne’er: contraction for never.

cunning- sneaky, sly, crafty

witty: amusing, humorous, clever

gauzy: thin, delicate, see-through

looking glass: mirror

behold –to see or observe

subtle: slight, or delicate

robe-loose outer garment

crest-a growth of skin ona bird or animal’s head

wily: scheming, sly, sneaky, tricky

aloft-up in the air

hue-colour

flattering- false praise

idle:lazy, inactive

heed- listen to or pay attention

evil-wicked

counsellor: someone who guides or gives advice

fiercely-violently

dismal- dark

The Spider and the Fly

A]        Dear friend what can I do,

 To prove the warm affection,

 I 've always felt for you?

 I have within my pantry,

a good store of all that's nice;

 I'm sure you're very welcome,

 will you please to take a slice?

   I]     Why is the speaker called cunning

 Ans.  The speaker  is  called cunning because he flatters the fly and he wants to

          dine upon her. He shows false affection towards her.

ii.        How does ‘he’ in these lines,try to lure the fly

   Ans.  He tries to be affectionate to her , he  invites her to his pantry and sings a song to praise her beauty.

III.        How does the fly react to the offer made by him

Ans.      The fly shows no interest in the offers made by the spider and refuses to

             accept them.

   b.        Sweet creature!” said the Spider,

             “you're witty and you're wise,
   How handsome are your gauzy wings,

              how brilliant are your eyes!
   I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
    If you'll step in one moment, dear,

                you shall behold yourself.”

i.              Who is this ‘sweet creature’

Ans.     The fly is the ‘sweet creature’

ii.             Why is the speaker praising her so much

Ans.     The speaker is praising her so much because he wants her to be his

            prey .He wants to trap and eat her up.

iii.             Do you think this creature is  really  wise. Why or why not

Ans.     The creature is not  really  wise because she comes under the influence

             of the spider and falls a victim to his flattery which leads to her death.

c.         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.

i.              Wht did the speaker turn back into his den

Ans.    The speaker turned back into his den because he knew that the silly fly

           would surely come back to him. So,  he went to his den to weave a subtle  

           web  and set his table ready to dine upon her.

ii.             How did he know that the fly would soon be back

Ans.     He knew that the silly fly would not be able to resist the temptation after

            hearing  so  many flattering words. So he was sure of her coming back.

iii.             Is he able to dine upon the fly How

Ans.      Yes, he is able to dine upon the fly as she gets trapped in the web of his

              flattery.

          HOTS

    Q. A.   What is a ‘fable’ Why is the poem called a fable

     Ans. A fable is an imaginary story about animals and birds in which they behave like human beings. It also teaches us a moral. The Spider and the Fly is called  a fable because it talks about two creatures –a cunning spider and a silly fly. It tells us how the spider lures the fly to fall a prey into his web of flattery .It teaches us not to be a victim to other people’s flattery. We must close our ears, heart and eyes to evil counsellors.

B. The spider offers various things to lure the fly  but   when he sings a song dedicated to her beauty, she finds it difficult to resist and becomes a victim of his flattery.