The Spider and the Fly
by Mary Howittliterary work· published 1828
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"The Spider and the Fly" is a poem by Mary Howitt (1799–1888), published in 1828. The first line of the poem is "'Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly." The story tells of a cunning spider who entraps a fly into its web through the use of seduction and manipulation. The poem is a cautionary tale against those who use flattery and charm to disguise their true intentions. The poem was published with the subtitle "A new Version of an old Story" in The New Year’s Gift and Juvenile Souvenir, which has a publication year of 1829 on its title page but, as the title would suggest, was released before New Year’s Day and was reviewed in magazines as early as October 1828. The opening line is one of the most recognized and quoted first lines in all of English verse.
Adaptations (1)
The Spider and the Fly was adapted into a 1916 film.
The Spider and the Fly1916 · film · 50 min · dir. J. Gordon Edwards · IMDb ↗A young Frenchman kills his best friend in a drunken fight. He vows to never touch another drop of liquor, but he goes back to the bottle when he hooks up with seductive Blanche Le Noir, and is soon an alcoholic. Blanche, however,...