9th English Unit 4 Poem The Spider and the Fly Book Back Answers

9th Standard English The Spider and the Fly Solution

9th Standard English Lesson 4 Unit 4. Poem: The Spider and the Fly Book Back Answers and Additional Questions and answers Download pdf. 9th English Samacheer Kalvi Guide Book in Answers. 9th Standard All Subject Guide Tamil Medium and English Medium. 9th English Important Questions. Class 1 to 12th All Subject Guide.

Lesson 1.2 The Spider and the Fly

Glossary

• parlour (n) – a tidy room in a house used for entertaining guests
• winding (v) – a twisting movement or course
• weary (v) – very tired, especially from hard work
• pantry (n) – a room where beverages, food, dishes are stored
• subtle (adj.) – delicate or faint and mysterious
• flattering (v) – to praise or compliment insincerely
• counsellor (n) – a person who advises

 

A. Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions in a sentence or two.

1. “The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,

And I’ve many curious things to show when you are there”

1. a) How to reach the spider’s parlour.

The spider’s parlour can be reached by going inside the spiral shaped web.

1. b) What will the fly get to see in the parlour?

The fly will see curious things in the parlour.

2. “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!”

1. a) Is the fly willing to enter the spider’s pantry?

No, the fly is not willing to enter the spider’s pantry.

1. b) Can you guess what was in the pantry?

The fly would be caught in the pantry and would become a prey.

3. “Sweet creature” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise,

How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!”

1. a) List out words used by the spider to describe the fly.

The words used by the spider to describe the fly are “sweet creature’” “witty”, “wise”, “handsome” and “brilliant”.

1. b) Why does the spider say that the fly is witty?

The spider says that the fly is witty because it will be moved easily by the praising words.

4. The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,

For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back again.

1. a) Why is the poet using the word den to describe the spider’s web?

The poet is using the word den to describe the spider’s web because the spider’s web is as dangerous as the den.

1. b) Why was the spider sure that the fly would come back again?

The spider was sure that the fly would come back again because it was moved by the flattering words of the spider.

5. With buzzy wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,

Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue

1. a) Who does ‘she’ refer to?

‘She’ refers to the fly.

1. b) What was ‘she’ thinking of?

‘She’ was thinking of her brilliant eyes.

6. And now dear little children, who may this story read,

To Idle, Silly flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed:

1. a) Who does ‘I’ refer to?

‘I’ refers to the poet.

1. b) What is the advice given to the readers?

The advice given to the readers is not to give ears to the praising words.

 

B. Complete the summary by filling in the spaces with suitable words.

The poem begins with the spider’s praise of the fly. He requests to the fly to come into its home. The spider describes his parlor as the prettiest one. The spider kindles the curiosity of the fly so that she may enter his home. Fortunately, the fly was alert and refused to get into his home. Now the spider pretends to be a harmless and asks her to come and rest in his home. He offers her bed and a sheet to rest. This time also the fly rejects the spider’s offer very politely. The next weapon that the spider uses is flattery. The spider praises the wings and eyes of the fly and also praises her robes. He invites her to look at herself in the mirror which is in his par lour. The fly is moved by the words of the spider and she falls a prey to her words.

 

C. Answer the following questions in about 80-100 words.

1. Write the character sketch of the spider.

Spider is a character in the poem “The spider and the Fly”, written by Marry Howitt. It has the skill of flattery. The spider flatters the fly to trap her into his parlor. He tries a different tactic. He offers the fly a pretty and comfortable place to sleep. But the fly refuses. He tries to flatter the fly by praising her appearance.

“Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!” (10th stanza)

And he invites her in to look into a mirror. He compares to the spider’s less appealing appearance. In stanza five, the spider knows it has won. He begins preparations to feast on the fly.

“Hearing his wily, flattery words, came slowly flitting by;” (11th stanza)

The fly comes by to hear more flattery about its beauty, and the spider strikes, taking the fly into its parlor. Thus the spider makes the fly as its prey.

 

2. What happens if we fall a prey to flattery? Give instances from the poem ‘The Spider and the Fly’.

If we fall a prey to flattery we will be destroyed. Take a lesson from “The Spider and the Fly”. Be distrustful of useless. Sweet talk is insincere. Not all praise or advice is genuine. Therefore we must be careful of listening to others. For that matter, the poet like us not coming into contact at all with sweet tongued people.

3. In your own words give a detailed description of.

1. the spider’s parlor:

The Spider’s parlor has a comfortable little bed, with light sheets to rest on. It is a quiet place, with pretty curtains drawn around to make it cool and dark. The perfect atmosphere to ‘snugly tuck’ in. This means to ensure a comfortable snooze.

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, (3rd stanza)

B. The Fly’s Appearance:

The spider begins to praise her loveliness. The fly has beautiful wings. He talks about those gauzy wings and brilliant eyes. The ‘robes of green and purple’ refers to the color of the fly’s body, the ‘crest’ or crown likely the fly’s antenna. ‘Gauzy wings’ have now become ‘pearl and silver wing’, ‘brilliant eyes’ are now ‘eyes like diamond bright’.

“…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!” (10th stanza)

Listening

Listen to the passage and fill in the blanks with appropriate answers.

1. Without trust there is no ______________.

Ans : relationship

2. ______________ is a very rare thing to find in life.

Ans : Trust

3. When people betray you learn from the _____________.

Ans : situation

4. Don’t let _________ on the road threw you back.

Ans : small bumps

5. If we keep moving forward you will have a wonderfully __________________.

Ans :  fulfilling life

 

Speaking:

E. The cunning spider was waiting for a chance to put the fly into its web and it used all the possible ways to trap her. Have you ever been trapped by flattery to do something you did not want to do? Discuss in pairs and share your experience in the class.

• A jay and I are – friends. A jay is elder to me by a year of age. We used to go everywhere to¬gether. Ajay is cleverer than me. We both were studying in the same class. We occupied the same bench in the class. Many have called us twin though we don’t look alike nor brothers even. Ajay was in the habit of making fun of me often. But I never minded it. One day he told me about going to the river and bathe there. He knows swimming.
• But I don’t swim well. He flattered me that day saying that I could swim well and he promised me to make me swim well and he promised me to make me swim better. Even though I refused to swim, he com¬pelled me to get into the river. 1 trusted him and jumped into the river. The river was deep and the water was flowing faster. He saw me struggling in the river shouting for help. Ajay took it as fun and did not come to my rescue.
• I thought that I would die. But to my surprise, a few people were watching me in this panic-stricken situation swam across the river and took me to the bank of the river. They advised Ajay not to be playful and betraying anyone. He was ashamed for his senseless active. Later I was taken to my house. I forgave Ajay but never wanted to be his friend anymore.
  ” Only a friend in need is a friend indeed”

 

Writing

F. The fly gives into flattery and becomes the spider’s prey. I you are asked to give a happy ending to the poem, how will you save the fly? Write in your own words.

• The cunning spider tried to ensnare the fly. Firstly the fly refused to accept the invitation to enter the spider’s parlour. Then the spider used flattery to seduce the fly. The spider started praising the fly. The fly believed the spider’s words and gave into his praises. At last the spider jumped up and caught the flypast. The fly released the danger and wanted to escape. While the spider was trying to make the fly its prey, there came a lizard.
• The spider was scared of it. So the spider went up leaving the fly-half – dead. The fly became alert. It struggled hard to come out of the thin thread of half hazard. The fly got some hope. In the last attempt, the fly fell down and flew away from there. The spider’s hard effort with great flattery entered in vain. The spider had to wait for another chance to get any little creatures as it prey.

“Where there is a will, there is a way”