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Where imagination begins
Comprehension Exercise
Las Hilanderas (The Fable of Arachne)
The Fable of Arachne is a painting by 17th century artist Diego Velazquez. It’s rich with
symbolism and colour. It’s also a narrative painting, which means there’s an in-built
story. This stimulus image can work on multiple levels: Metaphorical for high ability
students, or simply packed with setting material for budding writers. In this article, we
explain how to use this painting as a full writing exercise (suggested for ages 13 and up):
The Spinners, or The Fable of Arachne
Pre-Writing Activity : Perception and Memory Exercise
1) Group the students, preferably in groups no larger than four.
2) Flash the image to the students for three minutes only. Tell them to remember as
much as they can about the painting.
3) Turn off the projector, or conceal the image in some other manner.
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4) Students are to write down seven details they remember well.
5) Put the image up again. Each group should check their stated details against the
image. Ask what they got right, and whether anyone imagined details that are not
there.
Raise the fact that most people remembered the same parts of the painting. This is
because a good image, like a good story, is able to focus on or highlight key details.
Interpretive Exercise
Have each group of students produce a guess, on what the people in the room are
doing. Some probing questions you can use are:
What are the devices being used by the women?
They are spinning wheels and frames, used for weaving. Older students might
understand it’s a metaphor for fate (hence the saying “to weave your own fate”).
Why is there a ladder in the background?
It shows that these women are hands-on workers, who are task themselves
with maintaining the place.
Older students might understand the ladder is a metaphor for ambition: When you use
a ladder, you use it to raise yourself higher.
What is the relevance of the cat? Did you even spot it?
The cat is in the centre of the painting, at the foot of the serving girl in the middle. Cats
symbolize vanity, and the serving girl is lowering herself to tend to it.
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Who are those people in the background?
Only two of those people are real. The others are actually images on a wall tapestry
(look closely). Just as the tapestry presents a story, so too the artist is presenting a
story (if the viewer is perceptive enough to “get it”).
Why are all the characters women?
On the surface, it is because weaving is traditionally a woman’s craft. Older students
might grasp that women and weaving symbolize creation. Just as women create life,
they “weave” things into being.
Where is each woman looking? Why?
The hooded woman on the viewer’s left looks to a serving girl, as if for approval. The
woman on the viewer’s right has her back turned to us; even the other serving girls
look away from her. The hooded woman listens, whereas the younger woman has
closed herself off.
Writing Exercise
Students are to write a short story, from the perspective of one of the characters (the
cat is a valid choice). The theme of the story is: The Weaving Contest.
The story must mention or involve at least three of the objects visible in the painting.
Ensure this exercise is complete before moving on to the next part.
Knowledge and Storytelling: Artist’s Intent
The painting depicts the fable of Arachne.
Arachne was one of the most skilled weavers of her era. Her woven images seemed
to come alive, and was admired by all. Her work was praised by the water nymphs
(river spirits), who claimed Arachne must have received her gift from the Gods.
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Arachne denied this, and claimed that her talent was her own. Also, that she
was greater than the Gods when it came to weaving. Hearing this, the Goddess
Athena arrived to challenge Arachne. The two engaged in a weaving contest, which
the painting depicts.
Ultimately, Arachne’s work was judged to be better than Athena’s. In a fit of rage, the
goddess smashed the spinning wheel over Arachne’s head, and placed a curse on
her. Arachne was turned into a spider, and doomed to weave forever.
After hearing the story, ask students to look at the painting again. What clues did the
painter leave to suggest the story?
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The cat and the ladder are behind Arachne, symbolizing her ambition and
vanity.
Arachne looks towards a water nymph. She seeks approval, whereas Athena
the Goddess ignores everyone.
The people in the tapestry might be mistaken for actual people. This is the
painter’s way of imitating Arachne’s skill.
Arachne is symbolically weaving her own fate.
The nymph in the middle is lowering herself to give attention to the cat. She is
between Arachne and Athena because she represents the moral lesson: The
story is about catering to vanity.
Image Credit: Painting by Diego Velazquez
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