The great spider was a creature who lived in a forest in the Land of Oz. It would plague the creatures of the forest, devouring them at will.
As it had consumed all the lions in the forest, the remaining creatures were glad to see the Cowardly Lion visit them. They promised that if he dispatched the spider, they would revere him as king.
The Lion came upon the spider while the beast still slept, allowing the Cowardly Lion to dispatch it without giving it a chance to fight back.