Pick three examples from the poem for each of the following:
- lines that describe the spider's efforts
- alliteration (the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of closely connected words)
Three examples of lines describing the spider's efforts are: (i) 'It soon began to cling and crawl, Straight up with strong endeavour' - showing the spider's determined climbing. (ii) 'Up, up it ran, not a second to stay, To utter the least complaint' - showing continuous effort without complaining. (iii) 'Steadily, steadily, inch by inch, Higher and higher he got' - showing persistent progress toward the goal.
Three examples of alliteration from the poem are: (i) 'cling and crawl' - repetition of 'c' sound. (ii) 'slippery sprawl' - repetition of 's' sound. (iii) 'Steadily, steadily' - repetition of 's' sound. Other examples include 'silken, filmy clue' (s sound), 'brave attempts' (b sound), and 'cobweb home' (c sound).
Explanation
(1) The poem vividly describes the spider's efforts through action words like 'cling and crawl,' 'climb,' 'mounted,' and phrases like 'strong endeavour,' showing the spider's determination despite repeated falls. (2) Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words placed close together. The poet uses this device to create rhythm and emphasize certain actions and descriptions throughout the poem.