The Spider And The Fly

“The Spider to the Fly” is a 44-line narrative poem divided into seven stanzas of unequal length. Stanzas 1-4 are six lines long, while Stanzas 5 and 6 each have eight lines, and the poem ends with a final stanza of four lines. The lines vary slightly in syllabic length (from 12 to 15). However, Howitt’s choice of rhyming couplets, or two-line sets, establishes a consistent rhythm that makes the poem easy to remember. This, along with its defined moral, may explain why it was a popular choice for educational recitation.

The lines use a simple syntax largely consistent with colloquial poetry of the early 19th century. This again is aimed to appeal to the child reader and adds to the ease of memorability. The plot and theme are conveyed by the poem’s form, an exchange of dialogue that illuminates the characters: The more mature and sophisticated Spider uses questions and urging while the less knowledgeable and wary Fly conveys her shock by her repeated exclamations of “Oh, no, no!” (Lines 5, 11, 17). This reveals the motivation of each party and differentiates their responses.