1. i serve a great purpose
in the word
(or)
i am a vessel of righteousness
scattering seeds of justice
and serving the noblest causes
Poem & Poet : These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’ written by Don Marquis. The poem is in the form of an argument between a spider and a fly. It is a debate on the relevance of Beauty and Utility in life.
Context & Meaning: A spider is about to kill a fly. The fly protests. It tries to convince the spider that its life should be spared as it plays a very useful role in society. It proudly boasts that it spreads the germs of various diseases like typhoid and influenza. It is a holy instrument and carrier of divine justice. Wicked people die in these epidemic while innocent people survive. Thus, it performs a noble duty and cleanses society of its sins. The fly speaks the language of Evangelism, as though it is spreading the Word of God.
Critical Comment : The poem is a satirical comment on the age-old debate about Art-whether Art should serve some purpose or whether it can exist for its own sake. The fly personifies a practical man. The fly is proud of his ability to ‘cleanse’ the world of wicked people. He claims that this is his great purpose or duty in the word. The fly hence considers himself noble as he rids as world of such sinful people.
3. i am the artist
a creator and a demi-god
(or)
i serve the gods of beauty
look at the gossamer webs
i weave they float in the sum
like filaments of song
Poem & Poet : These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’ written by Don Marquis. The poem is in the form of an argument between a spider and a fly. It is a debate on the relevance of Beauty and Utility in life.
Context & Meaning: A spider and a fly have a debate about which of them leads a more meaningful existence. The fly boasts about the useful role it plays. It spreads diseases, whereby wicked people are punished for their sins. The spider, however, demeans the utility of the fly. It boasts that it enjoys itself weaving silk webs all day. The delicate, slender threads are an embodiment of beauty. The web is an exquisite work of art. It ca transport one to the land of magic and enchantment. The spider claims, thereforce, that it is not a mere worker like the fly. Rather, it is a creator and an artist whose work is invaluable. The spider likens itself to a small god or deity.
Critical Comment : The spider admitted, condescendingly, that the greatness of the fly was restricted to his utility. On the other hand, the spider was a demigod and a creator. The spider was an artist spinning filaments and creating beautiful cobwebs with such ease. Saying this, the spider pounced on the fly and began to eat him. The poem ends with the poet’s judgment of the triumph of art over science of ‘utilitarian’ aspects.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) The poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’ is a celebration of beauty rather than utility. Justify your answer.
The poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’ is written by Don Marquis. The poem is in the form of an argument between a spider and a fly. It is a debate on the relevance of Beauty and Utility in life.
A spider and a fly have a debate about which of them leads a more meaningful existence. The fly boasts about the useful role it plays. It spreads diseases, whereby wicked people are punished for their sins. The spider, however, demeans the utility of the fly. It boasts that it enjoys itself weaving silk webs all day. The delicate, slender threads are an embodiment of beauty. The web is an exquisite work of art. It ca transport one to the land of magic and enchantment. The spider claims, thereforce, that it is not a mere worker like the fly. Rather, it is a creator and an artist whose work is invaluable. The spider likens itself to a small god or deity.
The spider with contempt, acknowledges that what the fly says is true. It adds, however, that mere utility does not serve much purpose. It boats that it enjoys itself weaving silk weds all day. These webs are a work of beauty and transport one to the land of magic and enchantment. The spider says that it is, therefore, not a mere worker like the fly. Rather, it is a creator and an artist whose work is invaluable. The spider declares that it is far superior to the fly and eats it. The spider defeats the fly in the argument and this shows that the poem can be viewed as a celebration of beauty.
2) Describe the use of the fly and the spider in the poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’.
The poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’ is written by Don Marquis. The poem is in the form of an argument between a spider and a fly. It is a debate on the relevance of Beauty and Utility in life.
A spider and a fly have a debate about which of them leads a more meaningful existence. The fly boasts about the useful role it plays. It spreads diseases, whereby wicked people are punished for their sins. The spider, however, demeans the utility of the fly. It boasts that it enjoys itself weaving silk webs all day. The delicate, slender threads are an embodiment of beauty. The web is an exquisite work of art. It ca transport one to the land of magic and enchantment. The spider claims, thereforce, that it is not a mere worker like the fly. Rather, it is a creator and an artist whose work is invaluable. The spider likens itself to a small god or deity.
The spider concedes that the fly is useful. However, it asserts that it is far superior to the fly. It boasts that it enjoys itself weaving silk webs all day. These webs are a work of beauty and transport one to the land of magic and enchantment. The spider claims, therefore, that it is not a mere worker like the fly. Rather, it is a creator and an artist whose work is invaluable. The spider likens itself to a demi-god. Ending the argument, it pounces on the fly and eats it. Thus, Beauty seems to triumph over Utility.
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