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Aug 7, 2020 · Smart even wrote a poem titled A Song to David, although it, like ‘My Cat Jeoffry’, remained unpublished until long after Smart’s death. In his vast and compelling survey of English poetry, The Lives Of The Poets , Michael Schmidt draws a comparison between Smart and Blake, calling the former less didactic and with a better ear, as well as ‘greater formal tact’.
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The Poem. One of the most delightful and best-known poems in praise of a house cat, Christopher Smart’s “My Cat, Jeoffry” is actually one section of a much more complex and difficult work ...
- Summary
- Themes
- Structure
- Literary Devices
- Detailed Analysis
- Similar Poetry
‘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...
Summary. First, a brief summary of the plot of ‘The Black Cat’. The narrator explains how from a young age he was noted for his tenderness and humanity, as well as his fondness for animals. When he married, he and his wife acquired a number of pets, including a black cat, named Pluto. But as the years wore on, the narrator became more ...
The cat in the title refers to a particular fantasy of femininity and feminine desire. The play's primary cat is Maggie, a typically dissatisfied Williams heroine who prostrates herself before Brick. Maggie's loneliness has made her a "cat," hard, anxious, and bitter. The exhilaration of Williams's dramaturgy lies in the force of the audience's ...
People also ask
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Summary. ‘Advice to Women’ by Eunice de Souza is a unique poem that addresses the “otherness” of lovers and what role cats can play. The short poem presents itself as a piece of advice to women. The speaker suggests that women should get a cat, and from its neglect and general lack of love, they will learn what it’s like to be in an ...
