Mary Howitt Poetry

Mary Howitt was an English poet born in 1799. She is best known for the poem ‘The Spider and the Fly’ and for translating works by Hans Christian Andersen. She also wrote with her husband, William Howitt.

Biography Quotes

Poem Explorer Poetry Archives

PDF Guide

Nationality:

Themes:

Emotions:

Topics:

Form:

"> 100/100

The Spider and the Fly

‘The Spider and the Fly’ by Mary Howitt describes the entrapment of a silly fly who gives into her own vanity and loses her life to a cunning spider.

This poem is Mary Howitt's best-known piece of verse. It is directly connected to her writing in every way imaginable. The poem is also a good demonstration of how she, as a Victorian writer, could merge children's literature with Victorian morality.

"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,

"'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;

The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,

And I have many curious things to shew when you are there."

Home » Poets » Mary Howitt Poems

General

Poetry+

Discover

Useful Links