King Bruce and the Spider (Explanation with Reference to Context)

1. King Bruce of Scotland flung himself down

In a lonely mood to think,

Tis true he was monarch and wore a crown

But his heart was beginning to sink.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that King Robert Bruce of Scotland had been defeated in the battle field. Flung down himself on couch in despair, he was feeling very sad. He began to thing. No doubt he had been crowned as a king but the pressure of difficulties faced by him made him lose the heart.

2. For he had been trying to do a great deed,

To make his people glad;

He had tired and tried, but couldn’t succeed,

So became quite sad.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that King Robert Bruce had been trying to gain freedom for his country. He had fought many battles but he was defeated. He had been doing his best to make his people happy. Due to continuous failures he was disappointed.

3. He flung himself down in a low despair,

As grieved as man could be,

And after a while, as he pondered there

“I’ll give it all up” said he.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that King Robert Bruce threw himself down on couch in disappointment. He was stiken with grief. He thought over again and again and decided at last to give up the struggle.

4. Now just at the moment a spider dropped,

With it’s silken cob web clue,

And the king in the midst of his thinking stopped.

To see what the spider would do.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells just at the moment, when King Bruce was thinking to give up struggle, a spider fell down with his fine thread cobweb from the roof, the King stopped thinking and began to watch the movements of the spider.

5. It was a long way up to the ceiling dome,

And it hung by a rope so fine,

That how it would get to its cobweb home

King Bruce could not divine.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that the distance between the spider and the round roof of cave was great and the thread of the cobweb was very fine that King Bruce could not fore tell that what would happen and how would spider reach his home.

6. It soon began to cling and crawl

Straight up with strong endeavour;

But down it came with slippery sprawl,

As near to the ground as ever.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that spider once took hold of cobweb thread and began to climb up with difficulty. It made an effort to go right up to the roof but it slipped and fell down on the earth as close to the ground as before its climb.

7. Up, up it ran, not a second, could stay,

To utter the least complaint,

Till it fell still lower and there it lay

A little dizzy and faint.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that after falling the Spider at once rose from the ground without waiting to complain and began to climb on. But it fell down again very badly. Its head began to whirl round and lay there for a while. This time he became dazed and unconscious.

8. Its head grew steady again it went,

And travelled a half yard higher,

It was a delicate thread it had to tread.

And a road where it feet would tire.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that the spider recovered its senses and climbed half a yard higher than before. The thread however, was very delicate and there was a constant danger of its breaking down. There fore it was difficult and tire some for the spider to climb.

9. Again it fell and swung below,

But again it quickly mounted,

Till up and down, now fast, now slow

Nine brave attempts were counted.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that the Spider once again fell down and it was hanging in the air. But without losing any time it moved up again. Some times it went up, some times it fell down, some times, its progress was fast, some times slow; and in this way, it made nine bold attempts to reach its cobweb.

10. “Sure” cried the King, “that foolish thing

Will strive no more to climb,

When it toils so hard to reach and cling,

And tumbles every time”.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that the King Bruce said to himself that as spider had fallen for so many times. It must have found out that it could not reach its destination and would not make a further attempt at climbing. Because inspite of his hard labour and brave efforts it could not succeed.

11. But up the insect went one more,

Ah me! It is an anxious minute,

He’s only a foot from his cobweb door!

Oh, say will he lose or win it?

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that the King was surprised to see that the spider was making another attempt. It was critical time for the king, he was not certain whether the spider would succeed or fail. Although it was only a foot away from its cobweb.

12. Steadly, steadly, inch by inch,

Higher and higher he got,

And a bold little runs at the very last pinch,

Put him into his native cot.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that the spider went on gaining ground slowly and surely inch by inch. It covered the distance and it made an attempt at last moment of extreme difficulty. At last it succeeded in getting into the cobweb.

13. “Bravo! Bravo!” the King cried out,

“All honour to those who try!

The spider up there defied despair;

He conquered, and why should not I”?

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that at the success of the Spider, the King was pleased very much. He appreciated the efforts of the spider by saying well-done. He said honour and glory falls to the lot of those who are never discouraged by failures but they try again and again. The spider did not mind disappointment and at last succeeded in reaching his cobweb. The King said if a spider can succeed by perseverance, there is no reason why he should fail.

14. And Bruce of Scotland braced his mind,

And gossips tell the tale,

That he tried once more as he tried before,

And that time did not fail.

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the poem “King Bruce and the Spider” written by Eliza Cook.

In this poem poetess explains that one should not lose his heart if he fails in his struggle once or twice. He should continue his struggle till success.

Explanation:

In these lines poetess tells that King Robert Bruce resolved to fight against the enemy once more and the story teller tell that he tried once more and this time he won a brilliant victory over his enemies.