TNPSC Group 2 General English – Part B Study Materials:

Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission Group 2 or Combined Civil Service Examination II has 3 tier examination for the selection process. For Preliminary Examination is an objective type (Written Examination) with a maximum of 300 marks. TNPSC Group 2 Prelims examination – General English/ General Tamil portion topic has 50% of total marks. Candidates who are preparing for the TNPSC Group 2 General English Part are more important and you can score maximum marks in this part.

The General English portion is of 3 Parts – Part A: Grammar, Part B: Poem, and Part C: Literature. Part B Poem topic study materials PDF are readily available and given below for those who preparing for TNPSC Group 2 Exam.

TNPSC Group 2 General English –Poem The Spider and the Fly Appreciation and Figure of Speech topic question and answers solutions PDF given below,

The Spider and the Fly

“Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly,
“T is the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve many curious things to show when you are there.”

“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair
can never come down again.”

“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the Spider to the Fly.
“There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in!”

“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “for I’ve often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!”

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, “Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I’ve always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice;
I’m sure you’re very welcome — will you please to take a slice?”

“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “kind Sir, that cannot be,
I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”

“Sweet creature!” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I’ve a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”

“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you’re pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.”

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
“Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple — there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!”

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue —
Thinking only of her crested head — poor foolish thing!

At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour — but she ne’er came out again!

And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

TNPSC Group 2 – Poetry Appreciation Questions:

Read the following lines and answer the following.

1. “The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve many curious things to show when you are there ”

a. How to reach the spider’s parlour.
Ans: Through a winding stair, you can reach the spider’s parlour.

b. What will the fly get to see in the parlour?
Ans: The fly will get to see many curious things in the parlour.

2. “Oh no, no, ” said the little Fly, “kind Sir, that cannot be,
I’ve heard what s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see! ”

a. Is the fly willing to enter the spider’s pantry?
Ans: No, the fly is not willing to enter the parlour.

b. Can you guess what was in the pantry?
Ans: Only remains of dead flies may be found in the pantry.

3. “Sweet creature! ” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!”

a. List the words used by the spider to describe the fly.
Ans: Handsome, gauzy (wings), brilliant (eyes) are the words the spider used to describe the fly.

b. Why does the spider say that the fly is witty?
Ans: The spider calls the fly witty because the fly is clever to avoid entering the web.

4. The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:

a. Why is the poet using the word ‘den’ to describe the spider’s web?
Ans: Wild animals live in their dens. Spider also has its web as its dwelling place. So the poet uses the word ‘den’.

b. Why was the spider sure that the fly would come back again?
Ans: The spider has flattered the fly of its beauty, so he was sure it would come back again.

5. With buzzy wings, she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue-

a. Who does she refer to? ON)
Ans: ‘She’ refers to the fly.

b. What was she thinking of? 0
Ans: She was thinking of her beautiful eyes and the colours of her wings.

6. And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you never give heed:

a. Who does ‘I’ refer to?
Ans: I refer to the poet.