Mary Howitt's The Spider And The Fly

Have you ever heard of "The Spider and the Fly?" Mary Howitt, a distinguished poet, put together this funny but significant poem.This poem will help educate young children about the dangers of being flattered and deceived! A great poem that isn't just for the young but for the old as well meant to be read, memorized and recited!

Mary Botham Howitt, a famous English poet, is the author of this poem. She was born into a poor, Quaker family in 1799. Mary Howitt's father would often take his children on walks in the forest. Mary Howitt became fond of nature and because of it inspired some of her poems, such as "The Spider and the Fly." Published in 1829, "The Spider and the Fly" was one of Mary's first published works of literature. Mary Howitt translated many books into English. She even translated some of Hans Christian Andersen's works. Along with her husband, William Howitt, they wrote more than one hundred stories. Nine years after her husband's death in 1879, Mary Botham Howitt passed away leaving books of nature and lessons for us to read and remember.

At the beginning of the poem, the spider asks the fly if she would like to come into his parlor but she refuses, saying: "Oh, no, no! To ask me is in vain. For who goes up your winding steps will ne'er come down again." He tries to entice her with food and other things but doesn't work. He finally tells her what a handsome creature she is gauzy wings and all. Very flattered, the silly fly cannot refuse and flies to her