The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt

“Will you walk into my parlor?” said the Spider to the Fly, “’Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy; The way into my parlor is up a winding stair, And I have many curious things to show when you are there.” 5 “Oh, no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain; For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.” “I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; 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; 10 And if you like to rest a while, I’ll snugly tuck you in!” “Oh, no, no,” said the little Fly, “for I’ve often heard it said, They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!” Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, “Dear friend, what can I do To prove the warm affection I’ve always felt for you? 15 I have, within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice; I’m sure you’re very welcome—will you please to take a slice?” “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!” “Sweet creature,” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise; 20 How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes! I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf; If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.” “I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you’re pleased to say, And bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.” 25 The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den, For well he knew the silly Fly would soon be back again; So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly, And set his table ready to dine upon the Fly. Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing: 30 “Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, 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.” Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly, Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by: 35 With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew— Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue; Thinking only of her crested head—poor foolish thing! At last, Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast. He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den 40 Within his little parlor—but she ne’er came out again!

From the Fly’s experience, the reader can learn that —

A) one should not give in to dishonest praise
B) friends have sweet things to say about us
C) one can trust the kind words of others
D) everyone loves for others to flatter them

The poet organizes the poem as she does in order to —
A) explain how a spider traps a fly
B) tell a story about a spider and a fly
C) show how the home of a spider is different than a fly’s home
D) highlight the reasons a fly is taken in by flattery

3) Read the following line from the poem.
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.
Which other line from the poem provides the same idea?

A) They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!
B) I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!
C) And bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.
D) Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.

4)
Which words from the poem helps the reader know what the word weary means in line 7?
A) goes up
B) soaring up so high
C) rest upon my little bed
D) tuck you in

5)
Read the dictionary entry below.

subtle ˈsədl adjective1. highly skillful 2. clever 3. hard to perceive 4. not obvious

Which definition best matches the way the word subtle is used in line 27?

A) Definition 1
B) Definition 2
C) Definition 3
D) Definition 4

6)
Read line 32 from the poem.

Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead.

The poet includes these similes most likely to —

A) help the reader visualize the eyes of the Fly and the Spider
B) compare the beauty of the Fly to the ugliness of the Spider
C) help the reader imagine what a fly’s eyes look like
D) describe the reflection of light in the eyes of insects

7)
Which lines from the poem suggest that the Spider knows that he has won?

A) The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there.
B) There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin;
And if you like to rest a while, I’ll snugly tuck you in!”
C) So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the Fly.
D) With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew—
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;

8)
The Spider repeats the phrase “Oh, no, no,” to —

A) contrast with the Spider’s continual request for her to enter
B) stress the Fly’s annoyance with the Spider
C) highlight the problem that the Spider has
D) emphasize that she will not enter the Spider’s