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 fakirstare.'
(iv) 'He's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.'
Answered by Abhisek | 1 year agoHaving read the poem, try to guess whether the poet is fond of cats. If so, why does he call Macavity a fiend and monster?
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.
Read stanza 3, and then, describe Macavity in two or three sentences of your own.
"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?
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