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"Macavity: The Mystery Cat" is a poem from T.S. Eliot's collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, which inspired the famous musical Cats. The poem is a whimsical and humorous portrayal of a ...
Jan 12, 2016 · Janet was the daughter of the poet John Addington Symonds (1840-93). 9. Charles Baudelaire, ‘ Cats ‘. Like the Pangur Bán poem, Baudelaire’s ‘Cats’ brings scholars and cats together. The description of ‘giant sphinxes stretched in depths of solitude’ is a nice description of our aloof feline companions. 10.
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‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat’ by T. S. Eliot describes the evil untraceable deeds of a ginger cat named Macavity, an embodimentof the fictional character Professor Moriarty. The poem introduces the feline character, Macavity, as the “Hidden Paw” as he is one such criminal who can defy the law quite easily. Not even Scotland Yard or Flying Squad could...
In ‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat,’ Eliot includes the themes of deceit, crime, and mystery. What is most intriguing about this poem is how Eliot uses the theme of appearance versus reality. The ginger cat Macavity seems to be involved in numerous criminal acts. Yet, none can prove his direct involvement in any of those crimes. Law enforcers try to con...
‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat’ consists of seven stanzas, with the line count varying from four to eight. The poem begins with a quatrain followed by two six-line stanzas. Then, there is another quatrain followed by a six-line stanza. The poem ends with two eight-line stanzas. Eliot uses the AABB rhyme scheme of the rhyming couplets. For instance, the...
Eliot uses a number of literary devices in ‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat’ that include: 1. Refrain: In this poem, Eliot uses the lines “Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity” and “Macavity’s not there” as refrains. The first refrain is used at the beginning of stanzas two, four, and seven, and the second refrain occurs in the last line of s...
Lines 1-10
T. S. Eliot’s poem ‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat’ is about a mysterious, villainous cat named Macavity. According to the poem’s speaker, he is also known as the “Hidden Paw.” It means that Macavity has its paw in every crime committed in the city. Yet, none can make out his role in the act. He is the mastermind and can defy the “Law” quite easily. Not even the famous Scotland Yard (popularized by Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories of Sherlock Holmes) or the Flying Squad can get a hand on Mac...
Lines 11-20
The third stanza elaborates on the physical features of Macavity that help readers to imagine what this cat really looks like. Firstly, he is a ginger cat, having yellowish, orangish fur. He is oddly tall and thin. His brow is deeply lined as if he is always thinking, and his head is dome-shaped. None cares for the cat. That is why he has a dusty coat and uncombed whiskers. He sways his head from side to side, and while walking, it seems as if he is a snake in feline shape. Even if it seems h...
Lines 21-26
The fifth stanza begins with a terse remark. Macavity is, by no means, a respectable person. People are aware of his deeds and how he cheats while playing cards, even though he maintains an air of respectability. His criminal activities go unrecorded in Scotland Yard’s files. Besides, he is involved in acts of theft, murder, and vandalism. Whenever the larder is looted, and a jewel case goes missing, Macavity has some form of involvement. Be it a trifling theft of milk or a serious murder of...
Like ‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat,’ you can also read the following poems from Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. You can also read other T. S. Eliot poems. 1. ‘The Naming of Cats’— In this poem, Eliot introduces all the cats present in his light versebook. 2. ‘The Song of the Jellicles’— This piece is about the Jellicle cats, always in preparation...
T.S. Eliot. 58. 'The Naming of Cats' is a popular poem from Eliot's only light verse collection, 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'. The poem tries to decode the psychology behind the occasional meditative behavior of cats while reflecting on how cats get their different names that are three in number. 20th Century.
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Jul 10, 2024 · T. S. Eliot’s "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat" is a delightful poem that transports readers into the enchanting world of railways, guided by an extraordinary feline. This poem is part of Eliot’s larger work, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," which inspired the famous musical "Cats." Through the character of Skimbleshanks, Eliot masterfully weaves themes of order, responsibility, and ...
Aug 7, 2020 · Neil Curry, in his book [Christopher Smart] (By: Neil Curry) [published: June, 2004], describes Jeoffry as the ‘most famous cat in the whole history of English literature’, and the 74-line excerpt from Jubilate Agno may well be the greatest cat poem in the language. The poem is religious: Jeoffry, like Smart (who was confined partly because ...
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