Failure is the Pillar of Success Completing Story | Robert Bruce and the Spider

The story of King Robert Bruce and the Spider is a classic moral story in English literature. It teaches us that perseverance, patience, and unwavering determination lead to ultimate victory. This completing story is frequently assigned in English grammar examinations for Class 8, 9, 10, SSC, and HSC students under titles like "Failure is the Pillar of Success" or "Try, Try, and Try Again."

Setting: A dark, remote mountain cave in Scotland

Moral: Failure is not the end; it is the stepping stone to success. Never lose hope.

Target Level: Class 6 to HSC / ESL & English Language Learners

Once upon a time, there lived a brave and noble king in Scotland named Robert Bruce. He loved his country and his subjects dearly. His countrymen also had profound respect and affection for him. However, Scotland was not free; it was constantly under attack by King Edward I of England.

To defend his nation's freedom, Robert Bruce fought courageously against the English army. Unfortunately, despite his heroic efforts, he was defeated six times in battle. Driven away from his throne, Bruce was forced to flee for his life and take shelter in a dark mountain cave.

Lying inside the cave, King Bruce felt deeply disheartened, helpless, and sorrowful. Having lost his loyal soldiers and kingdom, he was on the verge of abandoning all hope of regaining Scotland's independence.

Suddenly, a tiny event caught his attention. He noticed a small spider hanging from the roof of the cave. The spider was trying to spin a web and reach the opposite wall. It tried again and again, but fell back every single time.

King Bruce watched the spider with great curiosity. To his amazement, the spider failed six consecutive times—just as Bruce had failed six times in battle. Yet, the tiny creature did not lose heart. On its seventh attempt, through sheer perseverance and continuous effort, the spider reached its goal and successfully completed its web.

This simple event served as a major awakening for King Robert Bruce. He thought, "If a tiny creature like a spider does not give up after six failures, why should I lose hope as a king?"

Shaking off his despair and sorrow, Bruce gathered his courage, rallied his scattered troops, and reorganized a fresh army. He launched a powerful attack against the English garrison in his seventh battle. This time, he achieved a decisive victory, drove out his enemies, and successfully restored Scotland's independence.

Moral: Don't be disheartened by failure. Failure is the pillar of success. Never give up after falling down; try, try, and try again.

Historical Context of King Robert Bruce

Robert the Bruce (Robert I) was a historic Scottish monarch who ruled from 1306 until 1329. He remains one of Scotland's most celebrated national heroes for leading the Wars of Scottish Independence.

To learn more about the historical background of King Robert Bruce, you can explore detailed biographies on Encyclopædia Britannica and ThoughtCo.

What is the main moral lesson of the Robert Bruce and the spider story?

The main moral lesson is that failure is the pillar of success. Through perseverance, patience, and continuous effort ("Try, try, try again"), one can overcome severe obstacles and achieve victory.

Why is failure called the pillar or key to success?

Failure reveals mistakes, provides practical experience, and builds perseverance. By learning from each failure and trying again with fresh determination, failure eventually paves the way to success.

Who was King Robert Bruce?

Robert Bruce (Robert I) was a famous King of Scotland who ruled from 1306 to 1329 and led his country during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England.

Robert Bruce was the king of Scotland. He was brave, but he was very sad because he had lost several battles against his enemy. One day, he hid in a lonely cave. He thought that he would never win the war. Suddenly, he saw a spider trying to climb up the wall. The spider fell down again and again. But it did not give up. It tried for the seventh time and finally reached the top. Bruce watched the spider with great wonder. He learned a great lesson from it. He thought, “If a tiny spider can try again and again, why should I lose hope?” He gathered his soldiers and fought again with new courage. At last, he defeated his enemy and won his kingdom back.