Advertisements
Advertisements
प्रश्न
What happens if we fall a prey to flattery? Give instances from the poem 'The Spider and the Fly’.
Advertisements
उत्तर १
Title: The Spider and the Fly
Poetess: Mary Botham Howitt
Characters: Spider and fly
Theme: Prevention is better than cure Flattery is a deadly weapon to defeat the enemies. The poem stresses the idea that can be seen in social trends today. If individuals succumb to superficiality, bad things are not far behind. The fly is ensnared because of the superficial praises of the spider.
“To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you never give heed. Unto an evil counselor, close heart and ear and eye” The spider is able to ‘ weave a web’ to ensnare the fly because of the superficial praise heaped on it. When the fly gives into this praise, believing it as truth, the fly is destroyed. In society, if the people are giving in tempting words and praises then they fall prey to flattery. Just as the fly is destroyed by the spider, the people will also be affected by the flatterers.
” Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish”
उत्तर २
Title: The Spider and the Fly
Poetess: Mary Botham Howitt (1799 -1888)
Characters: spider and fly
Theme: “Look before you leap”
Flattery is a deadly weapon to overcome enemies. The poem stress this idea. It is seen in society. If people succumb to superficiality, bad things approach them easily. The spider praises the fly excessively. The fly becomes prey to the flattery of the spider. The spider is able to ‘weave a web.
The spider ensnares 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 prey to their enemies. The poet advises the readers not to keep their hearts, eyes, and ears open to the evil counselors.
“All that glitters is not gold”
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
Complete the table by identifying lines, against the poetic devices from the poem. One example is done for you.
| Poetic device | Lines from the poem |
| Alliteration | watch his woods |
| Personification | |
| Repetition | |
| Imagery |
You overhear a friend talking badly about you. How angry does that make you feel?
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
Why was the ‘foe’ found lying outstretched beneath the tree?
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright.
What grew both day and night?
Read the following lines from the poem and answer the question that follow.
And I watered it in fears
Night and morning with my tears;
What figure of speech is used in ‘watered it in fears’?
Adolescents are often distracted by feelings like anger, disappointment, and general helplessness when they face challenges at school or at home. Suggest a way to turn such feelings into positive ones.
It takes much time to kill a tree,
Not a simple jab of the knife Will do it.
Why does it take much time to kill a tree?
Tending onward to the ocean,
Just like mortal prime.
What does the poet mean by ‘mortal prime’?
Seeming still, yet still in motion
Pick out the words in alliteration from the above line.
It's the stick-together family that wins the joys of earth,
That hears the sweetest music and that finds the finest mirth;
How do they find their joy?
