The "Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" is a classic cumulative children's nursery rhyme that tells a whimsical and absurd story about an old lady who swallows a series of animals, starting with a fly. The rhyme builds humorously as she swallows increasingly larger animals to catch the previously swallowed ones, including a spider, bird, cat, dog, goat, cow, and finally a horse, which leads to her demise

Summary of the Rhyme's Storyline

• The old lady first swallows a fly, and it is unclear why, with the repeated refrain "I don't know why she swallowed a fly—perhaps she'll die."
• She then swallows a spider to catch the fly.
• Next, she swallows a bird to catch the spider.
• This pattern continues with a cat, dog, goat, and cow, each swallowed to catch the previous animal.
• The rhyme concludes with her swallowing a horse, after which she is "dead, of course"

Structure and Features

• The rhyme is cumulative, meaning each verse builds on the previous ones by adding new animals while repeating earlier lines.
• It uses repetition and refrain for a rhythmic and memorable effect.
• Hyperbole and absurdity are key elements, making the story amusing and engaging for children.
• The repeated line "Perhaps she'll die" adds a darkly humorous tone to the otherwise silly narrative

Cultural and Educational Use

• The rhyme is popular in English-speaking countries and used in early childhood education for language development, memory, and rhythm.
• It has been adapted into various animated versions and songs for children

In essence, "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" is a playful, cumulative nursery rhyme known for its quirky story of an old lady swallowing a series of animals in an attempt to catch the first one, the fly, culminating in a humorous and slightly morbid ending