Chapter 10: Macavity: The Mystery Cat Understanding the poem AL, B..1. Macavity.is a cause of ‘bafflement’ to the Scotland Yard because he is never found at the scene of the crime. Even the Flying Squad is in despair because of him. - Though he is ‘outwardly respectable’, Macavity is suspected of looting the larder, rifling through the jewel-case, removing milk, stifling Pekinese dogs, breaking the greenhouse glass and causing irreparable damage to the trellis. . Macavity is considered an example of ‘deceitfulness and suavity’ because not only is he never found at the scene of the crime, he always has an alibi in place, with one or two more to spare. . Mungojerrie and Griddlebone are the other wicked cats who are also known for their criminal activity. . The poet concludes that these other wicked cats are just agents whose operations are controlled. by Macavity. . The poet gives Macavity the grand title of the ‘Napoleon of Crime’ at the end of the poem. This is because just as Napoleon was a supremely powerful leader who conquered large parts of Europe, Macavity too was.an accomplished criminal, controlling a band of other criminal cats under him. . Two examples of repetition in the poem are ‘Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity’ and '...Macavity’s not there!’ a. Macavity is a mysterious cat who is a master criminal. The poet has used this expression in a funny sense, as if to suggest that Macavity can defy gravitational pull. However, it could refer to a cat's quality of landing on their feet even when they are leaping or falling through the air, from quite some height.b. The fakir would stare at Macavity because of his extraordinary powers of levitation ¢. One can search for him in the basement or look up in the air, but in vain 2. a. The poet describes Macavity as a very tall and thin ginger cat with sunken eyes, a deeply lined brow and a highly domed head. His coat is dusty from neglect, and his whiskers are uncombed. He also sways his head from side to side. b. I think the cat displays signs of being unkempt because he has no time to look after himself, as he is busy committing crimes and then making good his escape from the crime scenes. c. His swaying movements have been compared to that of a snake. d. The poet says that when one thinks Macavity is half asleep, he is always wide awake. 3. a. The crimes of Macavity that need to be investigated are the loss of treaty from the Foreign Office, or that of the plans and drawings of the Admiralty. b. When the loss is discovered, the Secret Service remarks that it must have been Macavity who committed the crime. ¢. When the crime is discovered, Macavity is usually found a mile away from the scene of the crime. He is either resting or licking his thumbs or busy doing complicated long division sums. Life Skills and Values Suggested answers 1. Yes, the poem is humorous because all the crimes mentioned are said to have been committed by a harmless cat. Cats are by nature stealthy, but Macavity has been imagined to be a master criminal with powers of levitation and scores of alibis in this poem. His exaggerated powers of Gisappearing from the crime scene, or controlling a network of wicked cats make this poem humorous Hf Mecavity had been a man, then the poem would not have been so comical, as for a man to be committing these crimes is quite believable 2. The first instance of exaggeration is of Macavity's powers of levitation. This actually refers to the cat's skittishness. The second instance is when he is found doing sums. In reality, it probably means that the cat is occupied with himself, or grooming himself. The thicd instance is about the alibis that Macavity always has at his disposal. It indicates that the cat is always elsewhere with good reason.