www.sakshieducation.com A SPIDER AND A FLY
(By Don Markquis)
1)
I serve a great purpose in the world.
Introduction: These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’ written by Dan
Morquis.
Context: The poet writes lines arguing whether it is the superiority of art or beauty over
utility. He questions if it is form or function that is important. 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 and Form and Function.
Explanation: The speaker is a fly here which personifies itself a practical man. He says
that it serves a greatest purpose in the world by cleansing the world of wicked people. He
hovers around garbage cans, sewers and gutters causing fatal diseases like typhoid,
pneumonia and the like of which the sinful human being die. The good and righteous will
sustain to live while the bad and wicked will die.
Comment: Thus, the fly thinks that it noble as it cleanses the world of such sinful people.
2)
I am a vessel of righteousness
scattering seeds of justice
and serving the noblest uses
Introduction: These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’ written by Dan
Morquis.
Context: The poet writes lines arguing whether it is the superiority of art or beauty over
utility. He questions if it is form or function that is important. 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 and Form and Function.
Explanation: In an argument whether Beauty and Utility is more important in life, the
participants a spider and a fly compete for excellence. The spider is about to kill the fly
www.sakshieducation.com www.sakshieducation.com and the fly protests by imploring the spider that its life should be spared as it plays a vital
role in increasing the death rate through fatal diseases. It says that it is a vessel of
righteousness or an instrument of divine justice. The wicked die and the innocent survive
in this execution of divine law.
Comment: The argument of the fly is simply superb for it is just instrumental in
spreading diseases and increasing the death rate with its utilitarian approach.
3)
I serve the gods of beauty
Look at the gossamer webs
I weave they float in the sun
Like filaments of song
Introduction: These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’ written by Dan
Morquis.
Context: The poet writes lines arguing whether it is the superiority of art or beauty over
utility. He questions if it is form or function that is important. 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 and Form and Function.
Explanation: The spider argues that it is an artist. It boasts of its fine, beautiful and
delicate cobwebs of shining filmy threads. They are the embodiment of beauty. The rays
of Sun make the threads of the web shine and glitter which seems to be an exquisite work
of art like a mellifluous song.
Comment: The spider from it own point of view is right but it too can’t live without
food. Had it not killed the fly, it would have been just on the part of the spider.
www.sakshieducation.com www.sakshieducation.com 4)
I am the artist
a creator and a demigod
Introduction: These lines are taken from the poem ‘A Spider and a Fly’ written by Dan
Morquis.
Context: The poet writes lines arguing whether it is the superiority of art or beauty over
utility. He questions if it is form or function that is important. 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 and Form and Function.
Explanation: The spider and the fly have a debate in which they argue which of them has
a meaningful existence. The spider says that the fly is a mere worker living in slums and
sewages while it is a creator and an artist. The shining and tender webs are work of
exquisite pieces of art. So the spider claims that it is a demigod.
Comment: The spider over rides the fly and pounces upon it to kill proving that beauty
and utility can’t be separated. One without the other is just impossible.
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