Explain in detail the summary of the poem "The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt.

In Howitt's
1828 children's poem, a spider tries different strategies to entice a fly into its home so he
can kill and eat it. The spider is pictured as a smooth-talking gentleman and the fly as a
female.

The spider initially tries to appeal to the fly's sense of curiosity
to lure her into his home, but she sidesteps visiting him, saying she knows that those who go up
to the parlor never come back down again. The spider next appeals to the fly's weariness,
offering to tuck her into a bed with fine sheets. The fly repeats that she knows if she takes
him up on the offer, she will never be seen again.

The spider now turns to
offering the fly food from his pantry, but again his reputation as a dangerous insect deters
her. She still refuses to enter his home. Finally, the spider moves from appealing to comforts
and directly flatters the fly, calling her witty and wise and praising her looks. He offers her
a chance to gaze at herself in his mirror.

The fly has done well so far at
sidestepping the spider's enticements, but now begins to weaken, saying she'll return. The
spider knows he has her now and spins a web in the corner of his room.

Soon
after, the fly returns. Thinking only about her own beauty, she comes close enough that the
spider can seize and drag her to his "dismal parlor." She is never seen
again.

The poem ends with a direct address from the speaker to the children
listening to the poem. They are warned to ignore flattery and "take a lesson" from
this didactic poem. The poem also functions as a warning to women to sidestep the flattery of
smooth-talking, predatory men.