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The Spider and the Fly

 The Spider and the Fly
type
TVTItem
 The Spider and the Fly
label
The Spider and the Fly
 The Spider and the Fly
page
TheSpiderAndTheFly
 The Spider and the Fly
comment
"The Spider and the Fly" is a poem written in 1829 by Mary Howitt, and also featured in her book Sketches of Natural History (1834). It was adapted as a picture book by Tony DiTerlizzi in 2002.In this story, a young and naïve Fly encounters a Spider at his home one night. The Spider makes a fine display of courtesy and flattery to convince the Fly he means her no harm, even though she knows better than to trust a spider (and though the ghosts of the Spider's other victims try to warn her). Unfortunately, the Fly lets herself be charmed into coming too close...Not to be confused with the epic poem of identical name by John Heywood, which dates way back to 1556.
 The Spider and the Fly
fetched
2024-02-27T08:00:29Z
 The Spider and the Fly
parsed
2024-02-27T08:00:29Z
 The Spider and the Fly
processingComment
Dropped link to AnAesop: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 The Spider and the Fly
isPartOf
DBTropes
 The Spider and the Fly / int_1ba8eb64
type
Visual Pun
 The Spider and the Fly / int_1ba8eb64
comment
Visual Pun: The Fly at the center of this story is a damselfly.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_1ba8eb64
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_1ba8eb64
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_1ba8eb64
 The Spider and the Fly / int_21e5b9c7
type
Failed a Spot Check
 The Spider and the Fly / int_21e5b9c7
comment
Failed a Spot Check: The Fly is already aware that the Spider is bad news, but she continues to ignore numerous warning signs (like all the dead bugs he uses to 'decorate' his house).
 The Spider and the Fly / int_21e5b9c7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_21e5b9c7
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_21e5b9c7
 The Spider and the Fly / int_234fa9ba
type
May–December Romance
 The Spider and the Fly / int_234fa9ba
comment
May–December Romance: Using the term 'romance' loosely, but Mr. Spider is very much older than Ms. Fly.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_234fa9ba
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_234fa9ba
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_234fa9ba
 The Spider and the Fly / int_2e8441c9
type
The Bad Guy Wins
 The Spider and the Fly / int_2e8441c9
comment
The Bad Guy Wins: No prizes for guessing what happens to the poor Fly when she comes within reach of the Spider.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_2e8441c9
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_2e8441c9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_2e8441c9
 The Spider and the Fly / int_2f36d97
type
Older Than They Look
 The Spider and the Fly / int_2f36d97
comment
Older Than They Look: Both the Butterfly and Cricket ghosts. There are easter eggs of what they looked like in life, and their ghost forms appear older than they were when they died.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_2f36d97
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_2f36d97
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_2f36d97
 The Spider and the Fly / int_3bd384bf
type
Parasol of Prettiness
 The Spider and the Fly / int_3bd384bf
comment
Parasol of Prettiness: Ms. Fly carries a coneflower in this fashion. It suggests innocence and inexperience, as if this is the first time she's ever been out on her own.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_3bd384bf
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_3bd384bf
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_3bd384bf
 The Spider and the Fly / int_3c7d0418
type
Doom Magnet
 The Spider and the Fly / int_3c7d0418
comment
Doom Magnet: The Fly, obviously. She happens upon the house where the Spider lives.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_3c7d0418
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_3c7d0418
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_3c7d0418
 The Spider and the Fly / int_41a3e267
type
Hidden in Plain Sight
 The Spider and the Fly / int_41a3e267
comment
Hidden in Plain Sight: Aside from the obvious that the villain is a spider trying to charm an insect, what makes the book scary is the subtle things that become horrifying once you realize them. For example, in one scene, in place of a footstool, Spider uses the body of a dead ladybug that he's killed..
 The Spider and the Fly / int_41a3e267
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_41a3e267
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_41a3e267
 The Spider and the Fly / int_47fea76b
type
Butt-Monkey
 The Spider and the Fly / int_47fea76b
comment
Butt-Monkey: The Cricket. He gets kicked by the Spider while already dead!
 The Spider and the Fly / int_47fea76b
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_47fea76b
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_47fea76b
 The Spider and the Fly / int_4814d132
type
Big Fancy House
 The Spider and the Fly / int_4814d132
comment
Big Fancy House: The Spider's abode. It's actually a dollhouse, but it suits him.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_4814d132
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_4814d132
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_4814d132
 The Spider and the Fly / int_49d59be9
type
Scenery Porn
 The Spider and the Fly / int_49d59be9
comment
Scenery Porn: The illustrations are detailed and lush, with many subtle hints at the Spider's true nature before he finally springs his trap.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_49d59be9
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_49d59be9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_49d59be9
 The Spider and the Fly / int_4e3d253b
type
Downer Ending
 The Spider and the Fly / int_4e3d253b
comment
Downer Ending: If you're expecting a different ending than the original, forget it. The Spider catches the Fly, and she becomes a ghost like his other victims.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_4e3d253b
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_4e3d253b
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_4e3d253b
 The Spider and the Fly / int_56ade6eb
type
Sapient Eat Sapient
 The Spider and the Fly / int_56ade6eb
comment
Sapient Eat Sapient: The fact that the Fly can speak to (and argue with) the Spider has absolutely no bearing on whether he eats her. (That's at least in part because this is a parable about the dangers of predatory humans.)
 The Spider and the Fly / int_56ade6eb
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_56ade6eb
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_56ade6eb
 The Spider and the Fly / int_59605a46
type
Beast Fable
 The Spider and the Fly / int_59605a46
comment
Beast Fable: The Spider represents the person who covers his evil intentions with charm and flattery, while the Fly represents the innocent or naïve person who falls for his act.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_59605a46
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_59605a46
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_59605a46
 The Spider and the Fly / int_5f173ee4
type
I Kiss Your Hand
 The Spider and the Fly / int_5f173ee4
comment
I Kiss Your Hand: The Spider seems about to do this... just before he stuffs Ms. Fly in his hat and carries her to her doom.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_5f173ee4
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_5f173ee4
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_5f173ee4
 The Spider and the Fly / int_69681e01
type
Big Brother Instinct
 The Spider and the Fly / int_69681e01
comment
Big Brother Instinct: Both ghost bugs for the Fly, warning her to leave.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_69681e01
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_69681e01
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_69681e01
 The Spider and the Fly / int_711714da
type
Opposites Attract
 The Spider and the Fly / int_711714da
comment
Opposites Attract: Again, using term 'romance' loosely, but Spider and Fly's differences are obvious and many (dressed in white and dressed in black, old and young, flapper and Victorian), but in the scenes where he's charming her, she certainly shows some interest after a while.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_711714da
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_711714da
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_711714da
 The Spider and the Fly / int_8905bc4d
type
Extra Eyes
 The Spider and the Fly / int_8905bc4d
comment
Extra Eyes: The Spider has four tiny eyes near the crown of his head. They watch the Fly even when his 'main' eyes are closed.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_8905bc4d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_8905bc4d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_8905bc4d
 The Spider and the Fly / int_8a409f7c
type
The Flapper
 The Spider and the Fly / int_8a409f7c
comment
The Flapper: As the book takes place in a 1920s movie setting, the Fly gets to be this. And she looks good, too.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_8a409f7c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_8a409f7c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_8a409f7c
 The Spider and the Fly / int_95b7c400
type
Faux Affably Evil
 The Spider and the Fly / int_95b7c400
comment
Faux Affably Evil: The Spider plays "courteous host" until he is ready to pounce.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_95b7c400
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_95b7c400
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_95b7c400
 The Spider and the Fly / int_97cfa9c4
type
Seductive Spider
 The Spider and the Fly / int_97cfa9c4
comment
Seductive Spider: The Spider is portrayed as a Bluebeard and serial charmer of unsuspecting insects. He spends the entire poem flirting with a fly he intends to eat, who's clearly shown to be attracted to him and falls for his sweet words.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_97cfa9c4
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_97cfa9c4
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_97cfa9c4
 The Spider and the Fly / int_9b7de69c
type
False Friend
 The Spider and the Fly / int_9b7de69c
comment
False Friend: The Spider acts friendly to the Fly, but it's just to get her within reach.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_9b7de69c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_9b7de69c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_9b7de69c
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a0434be6
type
Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a0434be6
comment
Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: It's a bit hard to tell with the black-and-white illustrations, but the Spider looks sickly pale compared to the attractive young Fly.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a0434be6
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a0434be6
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_a0434be6
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a7850fbf
type
Only Known by Their Nickname
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a7850fbf
comment
Only Known by Their Nickname : All of the cast, actually. Though Word of God has some mention gave 'names' in paper puppets, downloadable here.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a7850fbf
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a7850fbf
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_a7850fbf
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a8298592
type
Mouse World
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a8298592
comment
Mouse World: The Spider's grand Victorian mansion is an old dollhouse... lying in the attic of a grand Victorian mansion.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a8298592
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_a8298592
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_a8298592
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ac9cac61
type
Scare 'Em Straight
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ac9cac61
comment
Scare 'Em Straight: As in the original poem, the unwary Fly meets a tragic end because she let herself be flattered into dropping her caution.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ac9cac61
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ac9cac61
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_ac9cac61
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: The Spider ends the book with a little letter to the reader, reminding them that he's a spider and this isn't Charlotte's Web.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ae3d6438
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_ae3d6438
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b034d333
type
Film Noir
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b034d333
comment
Film Noir: The whole book is set up in an old-timey, silver-screen setting.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b034d333
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b034d333
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_b034d333
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b53077b3
type
Take That!
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b53077b3
comment
Take That!: The epilogue of the book features one towards Charlotte's Web and readers who expected Happily Ever After.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b53077b3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b53077b3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_b53077b3
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b58b4e3c
type
Too Dumb to Live
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b58b4e3c
comment
Too Dumb to Live: There is an actual scene where the ghosts show the Fly a cookbook titled The Joy of Cooking Bugs in the Spider's house. Either she really wants to stay with the spider, or she personifies this trope.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b58b4e3c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_b58b4e3c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_b58b4e3c
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ba557643
type
Terms of Endangerment
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ba557643
comment
Terms of Endangerment: Mr Spider has quite a few for Ms. Fly. The most common one being 'dear', the others including calling her a 'sweet creature' and his 'most recent dinner guest'.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ba557643
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_ba557643
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_ba557643
 The Spider and the Fly / int_bdacb848
type
Purely Aesthetic Glasses
 The Spider and the Fly / int_bdacb848
comment
Purely Aesthetic Glasses: The Spider only has glasses in one picture. They're either reading glasses given the scene, lounging around in his pajamas in front of the Fly, or they're just to make him look smart.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_bdacb848
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_bdacb848
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_bdacb848
 The Spider and the Fly / int_d532ff95
type
Villainous Fashion Sense
 The Spider and the Fly / int_d532ff95
comment
Villainous Fashion Sense: The Spider, even outside of clothing fashion. Word of God says this, in fact, "Sometimes, like Mr. Spider in The Spider & The Fly, it’s all about the costume they wear…or the house they live in".
 The Spider and the Fly / int_d532ff95
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_d532ff95
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_d532ff95
 The Spider and the Fly / int_d7ab4666
type
Skeletons in the Coat Closet
 The Spider and the Fly / int_d7ab4666
comment
Skeletons in the Coat Closet: Almost all of the fixtures and decorations in the Spider's house are made of the bodies of his victims.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_d7ab4666
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_d7ab4666
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_d7ab4666
 The Spider and the Fly / int_da909e61
type
Villainy Discretion Shot
 The Spider and the Fly / int_da909e61
comment
Villainy Discretion Shot: While it's abundantly clear that the Spider has murdered (and eaten) dozens of bugs, the illustrations don't show any actual violence.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_da909e61
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_da909e61
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_da909e61
 The Spider and the Fly / int_e5ea3e9a
type
Page-Turn Surprise
 The Spider and the Fly / int_e5ea3e9a
comment
Page-Turn Surprise: The Spider and Fly look like they might be about to have a romantic moment one page before he drops the act entirely and captures her.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_e5ea3e9a
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_e5ea3e9a
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_e5ea3e9a
 The Spider and the Fly / int_f01a54f1
type
Evil Feels Good
 The Spider and the Fly / int_f01a54f1
comment
Evil Feels Good: The Spider can tell you all about how much he loves his job, especially in the epilogue.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_f01a54f1
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_f01a54f1
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_f01a54f1
 The Spider and the Fly / int_f829585a
type
Beauty Is Bad
 The Spider and the Fly / int_f829585a
comment
Beauty Is Bad: Again, this plays into the idea that the hero and villain are attracted to each other. It is up for debate whether or not the Spider is physically attractive, but he is at least charming.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_f829585a
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_f829585a
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_f829585a
 The Spider and the Fly / int_fc9b6be5
type
Foe Romance Subtext
 The Spider and the Fly / int_fc9b6be5
comment
Foe Romance Subtext: Much intimate tension is seen between the Spider and the Fly, but nothing has ever been explicitly expressed. He is posed to as if to kiss her hand the instant before he finally strikes.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_fc9b6be5
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_fc9b6be5
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_fc9b6be5
 The Spider and the Fly / int_fdc83c2c
type
Dead Hat Shot
 The Spider and the Fly / int_fdc83c2c
comment
Dead Hat Shot: The last illustration of the Spider shows him after supper, with the Fly's hat sitting on his plate.
 The Spider and the Fly / int_fdc83c2c
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_fdc83c2c
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_fdc83c2c
 The Spider and the Fly / int_name
type
ItemName
 The Spider and the Fly / int_name
comment
 The Spider and the Fly / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
The Spider and the Fly / int_name
 The Spider and the Fly / int_name
itemName
The Spider and the Fly

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
Bug Works / int_e92789b0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
Children's Literature / int_e92789b0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
False Friend / int_e92789b0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
Hard Truth Aesop / int_e92789b0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
Meaningful Name / int_e92789b0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
Seductive Spider / int_e92789b0
 TheSpiderAndTheFly
seeAlso
The Spider and the Fly
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
Too Smart for Strangers / int_e92789b0
 The Spider and the Fly
hasFeature
Vanity Is Feminine / int_e92789b0