Honeydew poem chapter 3 Macavity - The Mystery Cat

If you're a student studying chapter 3 of Honeydew: Macavity - The Mystery Cat Class 8, you may be looking for printable solutions to help you better understand the material. Look no further! We've got all the answers you need right here.

macavity the mystery cat

Chapter 3 of Honeydew: Macavity - The Mystery Cat Class 8 is a fascinating read that explores the mysterious character of Macavity, a notorious cat who is known for his cunning and mischievous ways. In this chapter, students will learn about Macavity's various crimes and how he manages to evade the authorities. With our printable solutions, students can better understand the themes and motifs of this chapter and gain a deeper appreciation for the literary techniques used by the author.

What are some of Macavity's characteristics?

Macavity, the mystery cat, is known for his cunning and mischievous ways. He is described as a tall and thin cat with sunken eyes and a forehead that slopes back. He has a long, thin tail that he uses to whip his enemies and a coat that is striped and blotched with black and brown. Macavity is also known for his ability to disappear and reappear at will, making him a difficult cat to catch. He is a master of disguise and can change his appearance to avoid detection. Despite his criminal activities, Macavity is admired by other cats for his intelligence and daring.

How does Macavity escape capture?

Macavity is known for his ability to disappear and reappear at will, making him a difficult cat to catch. He is a master of disguise and can change his appearance to avoid detection. He also has a network of accomplices who help him evade capture. In the story, Macavity is able to escape from the police by using his quick reflexes and agility to climb up a drainpipe and jump onto a roof. He then disappears into the night, leaving the police baffled and frustrated. Despite their best efforts, they are unable to catch Macavity, who remains at large and continues to cause mischief and mayhem.

What is the narrator's opinion of Macavity?

The narrator of the story does not have a positive opinion of Macavity. He is described as a notorious and dangerous cat who is feared by all. The narrator also highlights Macavity's cunning and ability to evade capture, making him a formidable opponent. Despite his negative portrayal, Macavity remains a fascinating character in the story, leaving readers intrigued by his mysterious and elusive nature.

What is the overall theme of the poem?

The overall theme of the poem "Macavity - The Mystery Cat" is the idea of a cunning and elusive criminal who is able to outsmart even the most skilled detectives. The poem portrays Macavity as a mastermind who is always one step ahead of the law, and who is able to escape capture through his cleverness and cunning. The poem also explores the idea of fear and the power that it can hold over people, as Macavity is described as a cat who is feared by all. Overall, the poem is a thrilling and suspenseful exploration of the criminal underworld, and the mysterious figure of Macavity serves as a captivating and enigmatic central character.

Macavity the mystery cat chapter summary

The poem "Macavity: the Mystery Cat" is written by T. S. Eliot. It talks about Macavity, a ginger cat who also goes by the name "Hidden Paw". He is a master criminal who is capable of committing a crime without leaving any evidence behind. His ability to vanish without a trace leaves both the Scotland yard and the Flying Squad baffled and in despair. He is known to have broken several laws, and the most astonishing being the law of gravity. His power of levitation, says the speaker, would make a fakir stare. Speaking of his appearance,  he is tall and thin and has hollow eyes. He is not very keen on maintaining his physical appearance because his fur is dirty, and his whiskers are uncombed. He also tends to sway his head like a snake. But he is an alert cat because he is always wide awake even though he may appear to be half asleep. Macavity is not your regular cat as he is a criminal in the form of a cat. He is very mischievous and lacks moral values. He commits crimes, walks around in by-streets or a square as if he is guilt-free, but vanishes when his crime is discovered. Then, Macavity is nowhere to found.

Macavity the mystery cat moral of the poem 

The cat openly disobeys the laws and is a criminal. The Flying Squad running after him always fails to catch him as he is faster than them. Macavity can float in the air without any support and is thus a special cat.

Macavity the mystery cat question and answer for class 8 

Question 1. Read the first stanza and think.

a.     Is Macavity a cat really?

b.    If not, who can Macavity be?

Answer:

a.     Macavity, a mysterious character is not a cat in reality.

b.    Macavity is a fictional character which is a figment of the poet’s imagination who believes that the cat’s actions resemble that of a law-defying criminal. He is a trickster who never gets caught by the Scotland Yard Police.

Question 2. Complete the following sentences.

a.     A master criminal is one who ___________________

b.    The Scotland Yard is baffled because ___________________

c.     ___________________ because Macavity moves much faster than them.

Answer:

a.     A master criminal is one who defies the law, evades arrest and escapes from the clutches of policemen.

b.    The Scotland Yard is baffled because they are unable to catch Macavity red-handed as he escapes from the crime scene even before they arrive.

c.     The Flying Squad is in despair because Macavity moves much faster than them.

Question 3. “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?

Answer: Macavity is breaking the law of gravity in light of the given statement. This implies that it is difficult to trace the mysterious cat, Macavity because he commits the crime and disappears from the scene even before the police arrives.

Question 4. Read stanza 3, and then, describe Macavity in two or three sentences of your own.

Answer: Macavity is a mysterious ginger cat who is very tall and thin with sunken eyes. His brow is deeply lined with thought and he has a highly domed head. He has a dusty coat and his whiskers are uncombed due to negligence. He sways his head from side to side and makes snake-like movements. Although others might think that he is half asleep but he is always wide awake.

Question 5. Say ‘False’ or ‘True’ for each of the following statements.

a.     Macavity is not an ordinary cat.

b.    Macavity cannot do what a fakir can easily do.

c.     Macavity has supernatural powers.

d.    Macavity is well-dressed, smart and bright.

e.    Macavity is a spy, a trickster and a criminal, all rolled in one.

Answer:

a.     Macavity is not an ordinary cat. -> True

b.    Macavity cannot do what a fakir can easily do. -> False

c.     Macavity has supernatural powers. -> True

d.    Macavity is well-dressed, smart and bright. -> False

e.    Macavity is a spy, a trickster and a criminal, all rolled in one. -> True

Question 6. Having read the poem, try to guess whether the poet is fond of cats. If so, why does he call Macavity a fiend and monster?

Answer: Yes, it seems the poet is very fond of cats and admires Macavity when he defies the law and manages to escape from the clutches of police every time. He calls Macavity a ‘fiend’ and a ‘monster’ as he wants to portray an evil side of the cat. He uses these terms to describe the negative activities of a criminal character who is very quick in movement and evades arrest every time and vanishes in thin air before the police arrives. The mysterious and devil-like eyes might have influenced the poet to create an evil character in the form of a cat, who is corrupt and wicked by nature.

Question 7. Has the poet used exaggeration for special effect? Find a few examples of it and read those lines aloud.

Answer: Yes, the poet has used many exaggerations in the poem, such as Macavity’s defiance of gravitational law and has used terms like ‘a fiend in feline shape and a monster of depravity’ to highlight the mysterious aura surrounding the cat. He often mentions in the poem that the Scotland Yard and the Flying Squad are in utter despair due to their inability to catch the criminal as he escapes the crime scene even before they arrive. All these exaggerations indicate the monstrous and mysterious nature of Macavity, the evil criminal.

A few examples of these exaggerations from the poem are listed below:

a.     ‘He’s called the Hidden Paw.’

b.    ‘He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair.’

c.     ‘He’s broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity.’

d.    ‘His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare.’

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