Samacheer Kalvi solutions for English Class 11 TN Board chapter 4.2 - Macavity - The Mystery Cat [Latest edition]

A French proverb goes thus: ‘The dog may be wonderful prose, but only the cat is poetry.’ You may have observed that all animals possess a number of unique qualities. Fill in the columns with words and phrases associated with each of the following animals.

People admire some of these animal qualities. What are they? Have you noticed some of them in yourself or in others? Share your views with the class.

Why is the Flying Squad frustrated?

Which law does Macavity break?

What makes the fakir stare in wonder?

Describe Macavity’s appearance.

Where can you encounter Macavity?

Why does the poet say Macavity is ‘outwardly’ respectable?

Who does the Secret Service suspect when a loss is reported?

What is Macavity expected to be doing after committing a crime?

What is Macavity’s nickname?

Mention any two qualities of Macavity.

Which two characters does the poet refer to as examples of wicked cats?

Why is Macavity called the ‘Napoleon of Crime’?

Read the poem once again and complete the summary using the words given in the box.

‘Macavity – The Mystery Cat’ is a humorous poem, where the poet T.S. Eliot describes the mysterious (a) _______of a shrewd vile cat. He commits a crime at every possible opportunity. He is an elusive master (b)______who leaves no evidence after he commits a crime. Even the Scotland Yard, the London (c) ______ agency is unable to arrest him. The Flying Squad is (d) ______ because every time they rush to the crime spot to seize Macavity, he is not there. He breaks the human law as well as the law of (e) ______. He baffles even a (f) ______ with his powers of levitation. Macavity appears tall and thin with (g)______ eyes. He is always preoccupied with some serious (h) ______. His coat is dusty and his (i)______are unkempt. Macavity is a (j) ______in the guise of a cat. He appears to be outwardly (k) ______ but his actions disprove it. Macavity loots the (l)______, ransacks the jewel-case, and breaks the (m)______glass but wonder of wonders he is not to be found anywhere there. He is always a mile away from the scene of crime, happily relaxing or doing difficult (n) ______ sums. He is clever at making up an (o) ______every time he plots a crime. All the notorious cats are nothing but the (p) ______Macavity, the Napoleon of Crime.

What are the mysterious ways in which Macavity acts?

Give an account of Macavity’s destructive mischief.

Describe the appearance and qualities of Macavity.

Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.

Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw…

1. Does the poet talk about a real cat?
2. Why is he called the Hidden Paw?

Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.

He’s the bafflement of Scotland

Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair:

For when they reach the scene of crime

— Macavity’s not there!..

1. What is ‘Scotland Yard’?
2. Why does the flying squad feel disappointed?

Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.

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…

1. Explain the comparison made here.
2. What does he pretend to do?

Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.

For he’s a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity

1. How is the cat described in this line?
2. Explain the phrase ‘monster of depravity’.

Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.

And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard’s.

1. What seems to be a challenge for the Scotland Yard?
2. Why do they need his footprints?

Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.

‘It must have been Macavity!’ but he’s a mile away.

1. What is Macavity blamed for?
2. Where is he?

Read the given lines and answer the question that follow.

There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.

1. Which cat is being talked of here?
2. How is he different from the rest?

Explain the following line with reference to the context.

His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare

Explain the following line with reference to the context.

And when you think he’s half asleep, he’s always wide awake

Explain the following line with reference to the context.

And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard’s

Explain the following line with reference to the context.

There may be a scrap of paper in the hall or on the stair

But it’s useless to investigate…

Explain the following line with reference to the context.

He always has an alibi, and one or two to spare

Identify the literary devices used in the following lines:

1. He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake.
2. They say he cheats at cards.

Give four instances where the poet has used alliteration in the poem.

What is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?

Pick out all the pairs of rhyming words used in the poem.

First, read the following sets of limericks with missing words. Now, listen to them being read out aloud by your teacher or played on the recorder. As you enjoy the absurd fun, complete the verse with what you hear. You may listen to them again, if required.

I

A wonderful bird is the (i) ______His beak can hold more than his (ii) ______can. He can hold in his beak Enough food for a (iii) ______! But I’ll be darned if I know how the Peli-can?

II

There once was a (iv) ______ at the zoo Who always had something to do When it (v) ______ him, you know, To go to and fro, He (vi) ______ it and went fro and to.

III

There once was a (vii) _______ little bunny Who I thought was sweet and (viii) ______ He ate all the carrots, And looked at the (ix) ______ And that was my cute little (x) ______.

This phrase originates from the fable ‘The Monkey and the Cat’. Explain how Macavity contradicts the phrase ‘cat’s paw’.

‘When the mouse laughs at the cat, there is a hole nearby.’ Explain the meaning of this statement to your friends.

Compose your own limericks on an elephant, a peacock and a butterfly. Read it out to your class.