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Macavity: The Elusive Mystery Cat

Macavity is described as a ginger cat with sunken eyes, a deeply lined brow, and a high domed head. He wears a dusty coat and has uncombed whiskers. The poem portrays Macavity as a "fiend in feline shape" and "monster of depravity" who possesses supernatural powers like levitation. He is able to commit crimes without leaving a trace due to his deceitful and suave manner. The line "Macavity's not there" is repeatedly used to emphasize how clever Macavity is at avoiding capture.

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Denise Chappell
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332 views3 pages

Macavity: The Elusive Mystery Cat

Macavity is described as a ginger cat with sunken eyes, a deeply lined brow, and a high domed head. He wears a dusty coat and has uncombed whiskers. The poem portrays Macavity as a "fiend in feline shape" and "monster of depravity" who possesses supernatural powers like levitation. He is able to commit crimes without leaving a trace due to his deceitful and suave manner. The line "Macavity's not there" is repeatedly used to emphasize how clever Macavity is at avoiding capture.

Uploaded by

Denise Chappell
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Poem Analysis
  • Vocabulary List
  • Detailed Explanation

The poet describes Macavity as the Mystery Cat,

Hidden Paw Master Criminaland the Napoleon of


Crime .Macavity is described as ginger,tall, thin and
his eyes are sunken in. He has a high domed head and
wears a dusty coat. His brow is deeply lined and has
uncombed whiskers His movements resemble that of a snake.
Altogether the poet describes him as a fiend in feline shape ,a monster of
depravity.He even defies the law of gravity. He possesses
supernatural powers which allow him to levitate up in the air. He
is so deceitful and suave in his manner that whenever the crime
is discovered, Macavity disappears without leaving a single
trace.
.19:13

19:17 he possesses 19:20

The lines Macavitys 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.

So unless you have been given other specific


information in class, I would go with "excited," for one
simple reason. The line "Macavity's not there" is
repeated at least five times; in the version I read, the last
(and sixth) time the author uses it, he has changed it to
"Macavity wasn't there:" it is written totally in capital
letters, finished off with an exclamation point. The poem
has been "gaining momentum" till nowthe exclamatory

phrase insists that the cat is nowhere near the scene of


the crimeand has, once again, outsmarted everyone!
In the most basic terms, the way the phrase is printed
and punctuated could convey excitement.

Baffle (v) to confuse; to puzzle


2. Brawn (n) muscular strength
3. Defy (v) to resist or oppose openly or boldly
4. Depravity (n) corruption or wickedness
5. Derelict (n) a person rejected by society
6. Fakir (n) a member of a Muslim holy sect who lives
by begging
7. Larder (n) place where food supplies are kept
8. Levitate (v) to rise and float in the air
9. Marge - (n) a border
10. Trellis (n) a structure of thin strips of wood,
crossing each other in open
patterns of squares or diamonds
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 pawprints. Scotland Yard and Flying Squad most shamefully accept their defeat before Macavity
hence the cat a bafflement for them.
It is said that Macavity is nowhere found. 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.

As per the law of gravity, every object is pulled down to the earths surface but Macavity,
being exceptional, never comes down once he escapes from a scene of crime. Being the
criminal mastermind, an internationally wanted criminal, Macavity is awake and vigilant
though he appears to be asleep. 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 doesnt have all that time
to care for his body and appearance. He is what his brain is.

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