Chapter 7 – Macavity: The Mystery Cat

Macavity: The Mystery Cat

Check out the topics covered in Chapter before you start your preparation. Improve your grammar skills with the help of Bihar Board Class 12 English Poem 7 Macavity : The Mystery Cat pdf links. The solutions for Bihar State Board Class 12 English Textbook are prepared by the English experts. So, if you follow Bihar Board Class 12 English Textbook Solutions you can cover all the topics in Poem 7 Macavity : The Mystery Cat. This helps to improve your communication skills.

Q.1.1. Write T for true and F for false statements 

(a) Macavity is an ordinary cat
(b) Macavity is an outlaw.
(c) Macavity is always there on the scene of the crime.
(d) Macavity can be found in the basement
(e) The poet finds Macavity lazy and half-asleep.
(f) It can be seen in the by-street
(g) Mungojerrie and Griddlebone are also cats.
(h) The poet is really angry with Macavity.
(i) The poet compares Macavity to Napolean.
Answer:
(a) F, (b) T, (c) F, (d) F, (e) T, (f) T, (g) T, (h) F, (i) T.

B.1.2. Answer the following questions briefly 

Question 1.
Why does the poet call Macavity, a mystery cat?
Answer:
The poet calls Macavity a mystery cat because it is never found after ‘ committing wrong. It leaves the place immediately after committing the crime.

Question 2.
What are the adjectives that have been used to describe Macavity’s character?
Answer:
Some of the adjectives that have been used to describe Macavity’s character are as hereunder; bafflement, ginger, fiend and monster.

Question 3.
Why is Macavity termed a “Criminal”?
Answer:
Macavity is termed as a criminal because it defies the law and indulges in activities of criminal nature.

Question 4.
What is suggested by the phrase ‘power of levitation’?
Answer:
Phrase power of levitation has been used to denote a supernatural and extraordinary capacity to rise and float in the air, especially by magic (which was possessed by Macavity).

Question 5.
What would you do if a cat enters your kitchen? Would you keep a cat as a pet?
Answer:
I will immediately drive the cat away, in case it enters my kitchen. No, I won’t keep a cat as a pet.

Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Discuss the poet’s impression of Macavity, the mystery cat Why does he call it mysterious?
Answer:
The poet is interested in ‘Macavity’ the mystery cat, though it is engaged in criminal activities. He finds it a wonder-cat. Macavity is mysterious because after committing a wrong act it is never found on the scene of the crime.

Question 2.
Macavity is never there “Elaborate”.
Answer:
Macavity is very cunning. It is deceitful. After committing something wrong and injurious it is always traceless. Macavity leaves the place where it happens to commit a misdeed and vanishes from there. It becomes bafflement for investigating agencies.

Question 3.
Why does the poet call Macavity ‘outwardly respectable ?’ Discuss.
Answer:
The poet passes satirical remarks on its peculiar activities. He calls Macavity outwardly respectable owing to show its meanness and also to rebuke (to castigate) for its misdeeds on a comical note. Macavity is the most cunning and indistinct (hidden). It has ever remained contrivance (skilled).

Question 4.
There are other cats like Mungojerrie and Griddlebone, but there’s no one like Macavity. Explain.
Answer:
Other cats like Mangojerrie and griddle one can not be compared with Macavity whose activities are wonderful and confusing. It is unique and unparallel.

Question 5.
Make a list of crimes Macavity is capable of.
Answer:
Macavity is able to commit various types of crimes. It drinks milk, misplaces Jewel-Box, removes important documents, indulges in various other impure and humiliating acts, which causes much damage to the society. (It is most funny, Macavity is not there.)

Question 6.
What would you do to tame Macavity?
Answer:
I shall work out a plan for the proper training to tame Macavity. Our pets must be taught to live in a disciplined way. They must know good manners and honesty. Macavity is after all an animal and deserves my love, care and sympathy.

Question 7.
Do you find the poem humorous ? Give your comments on the poem.
Answer:
The poem is, of course, humorous and amusing. There is no seriousness in the poem. It must be taken as a poem with lighter notes.

Question 8.
Give in short the summary of the poem, “Macavity”. The Mvctcry [cat [B.M.2009A]
Or, Write a short note on the poem, “Macavity” The Mystery cat.
Answer:
T. S. Eliot the renowned modem poet gave a humorous description of mystery cat “Macavity”. He intends to provide us with innocent fun, which serves the purpose of amusing us. Macavity is not an ordinary cat. He is a notorious criminal who commits ‘ all sorts of crimes, but at the same time is not found at the scene of the crime. His identity cannot be established, because the Scotland yard has no record of his footprints. Physically, Macavity has a long and thin body, uncombed whiskers, dusty skin and brown lined with thought. He can levitate like a yogi. He is specialised in the robbery, in forcing open jewellery box, cupboard storing good and even government offices.

He seems to be very much interested in secret files and documents. Whenever an important file of the secret treaty is fun missing from the foreign office the crime is attributed to Macavity. But conning cat could be seen at least a mile away from the spot, engaged in the innocent act of licking his thumbs of in serious mathematical calculations. In presence of any proof, it is impossible therefore to lay hands on Macavity. In short, he is involved in all sorts of crime and if any criminal activity takes place security’s ‘ involvement is apprehended. The poet remembers some other notorious cats, like “Mungojenie” and “Griddlebone”, but Macavity tops them in wickedness cunningness and notorious acts. That is why the poet has rewarded him with the title, “Napoleon of crime.”

In fact the poet, T. S. Eliot has tried to suggest that cats can have a ’ distinguished identity. Although every cat enters stealthily into a kitchen and drinks milk, eats the cooked food and makes certain damages to the • household articles. Few of them commit mischievous and nefarious acts. , Macavity has topped the list in committing crimes in a most cunning and systematic way. The pet is amazed at the mysterious ways in which he commits crimes without having any proof thereafter,

C. 3. Composition

Write a short essay in about 150 words on the following:
(a) Your favourite pet
Answer:
My favourite pet is a dog. It is a very honest animal. It takes care of the use and the family. It eats the food offered with great pleasure and enjoys her activities of the family. It really becomes like a family member. It has got his name. It loves to remain neat and clean and is full of good habits. Often it proves to be a source of jealousy for others. We are proud of having such a pet.

(b) Animals in prison.
Answer:
It is a very pitiable scene to see animals around us in prison. Animals also have a heart and mind and as we feel disturbed when our freedom is taken away, in the same way, the animals feel perturbed when they are kept in prison and their freedom is taken away. Often, in prison, they are not well treated and they suffer a lot. They don’t get proper food, environment and care. They must HH Golden Series Passport be taken care nicely for their improvement as they are also a very important part of our life.

D. Word Study :
D.2. Word-formation

Read the following lines carefully :
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare For he’s a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity. In the first line given above word ‘levitation’, which is a noun, is derived from levity’ which is also a noun by adding a suffix ‘ation’ to it. In the second line, ‘depravity’, a noun, is derived from a verb ‘deprave’ by adding a suffix ‘ity’ to it.
Form words from the following nouns and verbs by adding a suffix to them:
gravity, baffle, national, profound, jovial, celebrate
Answer:
gravity — gravitation
baffle — bafflement
national — nationality
profound — profounded
jovial — joviality
celebrate — celebration

D.3. Word meaning

Ex. 1. Match the words in Column A with their meaning in Column B :

Answer:
(1)—(e), (2)—(f), (3)—(b), (4)—(a), (5)—(g), (6)—(c), (7)—(d).

E. Grammar

Ex. 1. Fill in the blanks selecting suitable words given in the bracket against each sentence:
(i) If you…………….. to him, he would help you. (go, went)
(ii) Their footprints…………….. seen there, (was, were)
(iii) When you……………… here, I will help you. (reach, will reach)
(iv) They boy……………… father lives here is my friend, (whom, whose)
(v) Manoj is the boy……………. can do anything, (who, whom)
(vi) Sita is engaged…………….. some important work today, (in, with)
(vii) He is more……….. a poet, (than, but)
(viii) She…………… herself even in a critical situation, (contro, controls)
(ix) He has…………….. every human law. (broke, broken)
(x) There may be…………. point of discussion, (a, the)
Answer:
(i) go (ii) were (iii) will reach (iv) whose (v) who (vi) in (vii) than (viii) controls (ix) broken (x) the.

Comprehension Based Questions with Answers

1. & 2. Read the following extracts of the poem and answer the questions that follow:
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 the crime – Macavity’s not there!

Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one 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 the crime – Macavity’s not there!
You may seek him in the basement, you may book up in the air – ‘
But I tell you once and once again, Macavity’s not there!

Questions:
1. Who composed these lines to describe whom?
2. What is Macavity? What is so special about him?
3. What does the poet mean by “power of levitation”?
4. Whose bafflement and dispair is Macavity?
5. What kinds of law has, Macavity broken?
6. Is anyone there like
Answers:
1. These lines have been composed by T.S. Eliot to describes a mystery cat called Macavity.
2. Macavity is a master criminal in the shape of a cat. He commits so many crimes but he is found nowhere at the site.
3. It refers to the power of making body so light that it could remain suspended in the air.
4. Macavity is the bafflement of Seotyard and the despair of its flying squad.
5. Macavity has broken every human law as well as the law of nature (the law of gravity).
6. No, there is no one like Macavity among criminals.

3. Read the following extracts of the poem and answer the questions that follow:
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 thoughts, his head is highly domed;
His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.
He sways his head from side to side, with movement like a snake;
And when you think he’s half asleep, he’s always wide awake.

Questions:
1. Describe the appearance of Macavity?
2. How does it move? ‘
3. What does he do with his head?
4. What is the position when one thinks him half asleep?
5. What kind of cat is Macavity?
Answers:
1. Macavity is tall and thin. His eyes are sunken. His look is pensive and his head is corned. He has dust colour skin and rough whiskers.
2. Macavity moves like a snake.
3. He sways his head from side to side.
4. When one thinks him half asleep, he is actually wide awake.
5. Macavity is a ginger cat. It means he is tall and thin, not round and bulky

4. Read the following extracts of the poem and answer the questions that follow:
Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity,
For he’s 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 !

5. Read the following extracts of the poem and answer the questions that follow:
He’s outwardly respectable. (They say he cheats at cards.)
And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard’s.
And when the larder’s looted, or the jewel-case is rifled,
Or When the milk is missing, or another Peke’s been stifled,
Or the greenhouse glass is broken, and the trellis past repair
Ay, there’s the wonder of the thing! Macavity’s not there!

6. Read the following extracts of the poem and answer the questions that follow:
And When the Foreign Office find a Treaty’s gone astray
Or the Admiralty lose plans and drawing by the way,
There may be a scrap of paper in the hall or on the stair
But it’s useless to investigate, – Macavity’s not there!
And when the loss has been disclosed, the Secret Service says:
‘It must have been Macavity!’ but he’s a mile away.
You’ll be sure to find him resting, or a-licking of his thumbs,
Or engaged in doing complicated long divisions sums.

7. Read the following extracts of the poem and answer the questions that follow:
Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity,
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
He always has an alibi and one or two to spare;
At whatever time the deed took place – Macavity wasn’t there!

8. Read the following extracts of the poem and answer the questions that follow:
And they say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely known
(I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone)
Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time I
Just control their operations the Napoleon of Crime!