Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly, Hearing his wily flattering words, came slowly flitting by; (a) Why is the little fly silly?

Question

Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions in a sentence or two.

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly, 

Hearing his wily flattering words, came slowly flitting by;

(a) Why is the little fly silly?

(b) What is ‘wily’?

Answer 1

(a) The little fly is silly because it came back enticed by the spider’s flattering words.

(b) ‘Wily’ is cunning.