Summary of Macavity and Question Answers

Summary of Macavity-T.S. Eliot 

T.S Eliot describes Macavity as a ginger cat who is both tall and thin. He can be recognized from his eyes which are deeply sunken in. This cat has lines on his forehead steeped with thoughts; he has a head that is highly domed while his coat is untidy and his whiskers uncombed. Macavity moves like a snake and whenever he is mistaken to be asleep, he is wide awake.

The poet says there is no one like Macavity. He is a devil in disguise of a cat; he is a monster of wickedness. One may meet him in a by-street or in the square but when the crime is discovered, Macavity is not there.

Macavity’s footprint’s are never to be found in any file of the Scotland Yard’s. Here, the poet mentions some of his crimes. He says that Macavity is the one behind looting the larder, or the jewel-case. He is also behind the breaking of the greenhouse glass and the trellis. Also when the milk goes missing or Peke’s been smothered; it is Macavity to be blamed. The most surprising factor that connects them is that when the offence is discovered, Macavity is not there.

When the Foreign Office’s Treaty is not found or the Admiralty loses some plans and drawing, it is useless to investigate as they all know that the mastermind behind this act is undoubtedly Macavity’s. But Macavity’s a mile away from the scene of crime; he is either relaxing or licking his thumbs or has occupied himself in solving complicated long division sums.

The final stanza of the poem states that there has never been a cat of such deceitfulness and tactfulness. Macavity is always ready with an alibi or two and when the crimes are discovered Macavity is not there. T.S Eliot talks about other wicked cats namely Mungojerrie and Griddlebone who are nothing but agents of Macavity: The Napoleon of Crime.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of the poem, Macavity: The Mystery Cat” is AABB. Eliot uses many literary techniques to make the poem appear humorous to the readers. Instead of using human as the main character, he uses a cat and attributes human qualities to it. The list of literary devices used in the poem is analyzed below.

Simile: A simile is a figure of speech in which two dissimilar objects are compared and the comparison is made clear by the use of terms like ‘like’, ‘such as’ and so on.
“He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake” is a fine example of simile in the poem.

Personification: Attributing human qualities to some inanimate object is known as personification. “They say he cheats at cards” is an example of personification. Like a human, the poet suggests that Macavity plays cards and cheats at them. The readers know that a cat cannot play cards but it can break any human law and get away with it. The use of anthropomorphism makes the poem seem unrealistic but humorous.

Repetition: The lines ‘Macavity’s not there’ has been repeated a number of times in the poem to emphasize on the fact that the cat is too clever to be caught.
‘Macavity, Macavity there’s no one like Macavity’ is another line which is repeated in the poem to highlight the fact that there is only one criminal mastermind and that is Macavity alone.

Word-Meanings:

1. bafflement- bewilderment
2. levitation- cause or rise up in the air through magical powers or mediation.
3. ginger- noiseless, cunning
4.fiend- devil
5. depravity- wickedness, dishonesty
6. alibi-a claim that one was elsewhere during the act.
7. Napoleon of Crime: the dictating leader of crime
8. Scotland Yard and The Flying Squad: British Detective agencies.

1. What is the most remarkable thing about Macavity?
Macavity, known as the Mystery Cat has defied all laws. He even defies the law of gravity. He possesses supernatural powers which allow him to levitate up in the air. He is so suave in his manner that whenever the crime is discovered, Macavity disappears without leaving a single trace.

2. Explain ‘his power of levitation would make a fakir stare..’
The fakirs are ascetics who possess supernatural powers and perform miracles and levitation. Eliot says that Macavity also possesses such powers which can outdo a fakir. The way he rises up in the air and escapes is beyond a fakir’s imagination.

3. Describe Macavity.

Macavity is a tall and thin ginger cat whose eyebrows are deep with lines. He has sunken eyes which gives him a fiend look. His coat is untidy and his whiskers are uncombed. He moves his head from side to side and his body movement is like that of a snake.

4. What kinds of crimes does he commit? Give examples from the poem.
Macavity has his hand in looting pantries, stealing jewel cases and milk bottles. He also has the reputation of smothering smaller breeds of dogs, breaking the greenhouse glass and the trellis. However, his bigger crimes include stealing important documents from the Foreign Office or letting the Admiralty lose some plans and drawings.

Summary

In T.S Eliot's poem, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, he describes the mysterious qualities of a cat of villainous character. Macavity is a tall and thin cat who is always up to some crime. He is too clever to leave any evidence of his guilt. He is an enigma to every detective agency in the world including Scotland Yard and Flying Squad who are specialized investigating crime. There is never enough proof to arrest him and “he’s a mile away” from all crime spots.

Not only does he breaks the human law but also breaks the law of gravity. His brows are deeply lining as a result of continuous planning of crime. Macavity has sunken eyes and “his head is highly domed”. He never combs his whiskers. His movements resemble that of a snake. He spends his time plotting for his criminal acts and how to carry them out.           The poem accuses Macavity of misbehaviour, such as stealing milk, but also holds him responsible for major crimes. He is referred to as a "fiend in feline shape”.  He has been suspected of stifling Pekes, vandalism, theft, cheating at cards, and spying.  He has also controlled an organized crime with 

Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer  and Griddlebone among the members.

I.                   Answer each in about 60 words:

1)      Who does Macavity fool and confuse?

Macavity is a “master criminal” who even challenges the law. He deceives even the famous investigating agencies like Scotland Yard and the Flying Squad.

2)      What is the most remarkable thing about Macavity?

Macavity has “broken every human law.” He even possesses several supernatural powers such as levitation which makes a person rise in the air. He is such an expert that when the police reach the scene of crime “Macavity’s not there!”

3)      What is the connection between “Fakir” and “Power of Levitation?”

The Fakirs are ascetics who live on alms. They possess supernatural powers and perform miracles. The poet says that Macavity can outshine a fakir in his power of levitation. The way he rises and hovers in the air and escapes from the scene of crime is beyond one’s imagination.

1.           Why is Macavity called a Mystery Cat? 
Macavity is a mystery cat because no crime agency was ever able to arrest this criminal mastermind during or after his committing a crime. They could never get his paw-prints.

2.           Macavity is also known as ‘Hidden Paw.’ Why?
Macavity is also known as Hidden Paw because of its secretive character. After committing a crime, it escapes so smartly and mysteriously that investigators have never traced the marks of his paws.

3.           What are Scotland Yard and Flying Squad? Why is Macavity the bafflement and despair for them?
Scotland Yard and Flying Squad are the most popular and most efficient crime investigators in the world. Though they are proud of their achievements in the history of crime, they most shamefully accept their defeat before Macavity hence the cat a bafflement for them.

Why is it said that there is no one like Macavity?

It is said that Macavity is nowhere for two reasons: Firstly it is very difficult to meet a master villain like Macavity anywhere and there is no one who ever met Macavity; another reason is that it is impossible to meet an exceptional cat like Macavity in the whole world.

How does Macavity break the law of gravity?

As per the l;aw of gravity, every object is pulled down to the earth’s surface but Macavity, being exceptional, never comes down once he escapes from a scene of crime.

What do you mean by the power of levitation? Whom does Macavity amaze with his power of levitation? How?

Levitation is the power to float or fly in the air. A fakir is endowed with a number of magical powers and skills but he is not able to tame Macavity who alone has the ability to practice the power of levitation.

The poet is describing Macavity as if the cat is a don. What is your opinion?

1.           What do you understand about Macavity being a ‘ginger cat?’
Macavity being a ginger cat means it is highly spirited and animated. Even when it is seemingly asleep, it is wide awake.

2.           Why does Macavity appear to be half asleep?
A very important quality of an exceptional criminal is to be ever vigilant. Being the criminal mastermind, an internationally wanted criminal, Macavity is awake and vigilant though he appears to be asleep.

3.           What gives us the impression that Macavity’s actions are guided by his right judgment?
Macavity spends most of its time thinking and plotting. His his eyes are sunken in, brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly doomed, his coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed because he doesn’t have all that time to care for his body and appearance. He is what his brain is.

4.           Apart from thinking, how does Macavity keep his enemies away?
Macavity seldom sleeps. Well, he appears to be asleep but that is only to fool his captors, the police and Scotland Yard. In fact when you think he’s half asleep, he’s always wide awake.

Macavity The Mystery Cat Poem QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK

WORKING WITH THE POEM (PAGE 51)

Question 1: Read the first stanza and think.

(i) Is Macavity a cat really? (ii) If not, who can Macavity be?

Answer: (i) Macavity is a cunning cat. (ii) If not a cat, he can be an expert thief or criminal or a mysterious creature.

Question 2: Complete the following sentences.

(i) A master criminal is one who ………………………….. (ii) The Scotland Yard is baffled because ………………….. (iii) …………………… because Macavity moves much faster than them.

Answer: (i) evades arrest and escapes from the scene of crime. (ii) it fails to get a clue about the criminal. (iii) Flying Squad is not able to catch hold of him.

Question 3: “A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through”. (Jules Verne) Which law is Macavity breaking in the light of the comment above? Answer: Newton’s Law of Gravitation.

Question 4: Read stanza 3, and then describe Macavity in two or three sentences of your own. Answer: Macavity is a very cunning and cautious cat. He is tall and thin. His eyes are sunken in, his forehead is wrinkled, and his head is dome like. His coat is soiled. Hair on his cheeks is not combed.

Question 5: Say ‘False’ or ‘True’ for each of the following statements.

(i) Macavity is not an ordinary cat. (ii) Macavity cannot do what a fakir can easily do. (iii) Macavity has supernatural powers. (iv) Macavity is well-dressed, smart and bright. (v) Macavity is a spy, a trickster and a criminal, all rolled in one.

Answer:

(i) True (ii) False (iii) True (iv) False (v) True

Question 6: Having read the poem, try to guess whether the poet is fond of cats. If so, why does he call Macavity a fiend and monster? Answer: The poet admires the cat for his swift movement, expert criminality and the way he gives a slip to the police. But he is a law breaker at the same time, so the poet calls him a devil and giant.

Question 7: Has the poet used exaggeration for special effect? Find a few examples of it and read those lines aloud. Answer: The following statements are examples of exaggeration. • He is the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair. • His power of levitation. • A fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.

Question 1: How does the poet describe Macavity and his pranks? Answer: Macavity was a male cat. He was a clever criminal. He had no fear of law or the police. He escaped from the scene of crime before the police arrived there. He was tall and thin. He was careless about his clothes and whiskers. He moved like a snake and pretended to be asleep. He was, in fact, a devil in the shape of a cat. He was wicked and morally corrupt.

Question 2: How does the poet support his statement ‘There is no one like Macavity’? Answer: The poet calls Macavity a master criminal. He could make a good escape before the police came to the scene of crime. He befooled the soldiers and the flying squad. He was an outlaw. He was a master in his field. He was matchless, a devil in the shape of a cat.

Question 6. Having read the poem, try to guess whether the poet is fond of cats. If so, why does he call Macavity a fiend and monster?

Answer

Yes, it seems like the poet is fond of cats. He calls Macavity a 'fiend' and a 'monster' because he might have wanted to portray an evil side. He might have used a cat in order to create a negative character who is a criminal and escapes easily from police. The quick movements of a cat and its mysterious eyes might have influenced him to create this evil character in the form of a cat.

Question 7. Has the poet used exaggeration for special effect? Find a few examples of it and read those lines aloud.

Answer Yes, the poet has used exaggerations such as the cat's defiance of gravity and it being called a 'monster of depravity' and a 'fiend' in order to enhance the mystery surrounding the cat. Since the cat is shown to be super fast as nobody from the Scotland Yard to the flying squad can catch it on the scene of crime, these exaggerations have been used by Eliot to lay stress on this monstrous as well as surprising and mysterious nature of Macavity. Examples: (i) 'He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair'. (ii) 'He breaks the law of gravity'. (iii) 'His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare.' (iv) 'He's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.'

Macavity is, in all likelihood, a notorious, but extremely wily and villainous human being given to committing daring crimes. The most efficient detective agencies fail to apprehend him, although they are sure the crime is committed by Macavity. Poem … 1st stanza … Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw– For he’s the master criminal who can defy the Law. He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair: For when they reach the scene of crime–Macavity’s not there! Explanation … Macavity is agile, cunning, and a master of deceit. Soon after a crime is reported, the Scotland Yard and the Flying Squad swing into action to catch him, but he succeeds in throwing them off his trail. Poem … 2nd stanza …. Macavity, Macavity, there’s no on like Macavity, He’s broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity. His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare, And when you reach the scene of crime–Macavity’s not there! You may seek him in the basement, you may look up in the air– But I tell you once and once again, Macavity’s not there! Explanation … Macavity breaks laws with virtual impunity, because he manages to evade arrest by the anti-crime establishment. He is gifted with the power to defy the forces of gravity. He uses this asset to accomplish his hideous plans. He flees the spot of the crime with alarming ease and speed, outsmarting the police. In all cases, his lightening speed of escape frustrates the police.

Poem … 3rd Stanza … Macavity’s a ginger cat, he’s very tall and thin; You would know him if you saw him, for his eyes are sunken in. His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly doomed; His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed. He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake; And when you think he’s half asleep, he’s always wide awake. Explanation … Macavity is scrawny, with deeply set eyes. He appears to be immersed in his scheming always. His forehead’s contracted muscles show his thoughtful mood, as do his brows. He wears an un-kempt coat, apparently a result of his trying to avoid the glare of the mainstream society. His whiskers are not trimmed and combed. Engrossed in his criminal plans, he sways his head often. His gait is serpentine, possibly a sign of his absent-mindedness. Poem.. 4th Stanza … Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity, For he’s a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity. You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square– But when a crime’s discovered, then Macavity’s not there! Explanation … Macavity is devilish, vile and a threat to society. He moves around in the alleys and the squares. But, when a crime is committed, he just vanishes in to thin air.