Contents
Class 8 English Chapter 3 Poem
Macavity: The Mystery Cat Notes
| Text Book | NCERT |
| Class | Class 8 |
| Subject | English |
| Book Name | Honeydew |
| Chapter Name | Macavity: The Mystery Cat |
| Category | Class 8 English |
Summary of Macavity: The Mystery Cat Poem
The poem is about a cat called Macavity. He is also called the “Hidden Paw”. The cat is a great criminal. He has openly disobeyed the law. Yet the police of Scotland Yard are helpless before Macavity. Sometimes the Flying Squad runs after it. However, the squad is always disappointed. The cat is never found by it. Macavity moves much faster than the Flying Squad. The poet is sure that there has been no creature like Macavity. Macavity has broken not only human laws but even the laws of nature.
He floats in the air without any support. Thus, he breaks nature’s law of gravitation. The fakirs are supposed to have some magical powers but even they stare upon Macavity. Yet, the wonder of wonders is that when one rushes to the scene of the crime, Macavity is not found. Those who look after him find him neither in the basement (i.e., under the earth), nor in the air (i.e., sky).
Macavity is a very special cat. He is very tall and thin. It’s very easy to recognise him. His eyes are deep set in his face. His brow has deep wrinkles as if he is lost in deep thoughts. Due to constant neglect, his skin is full of dust. You will find him swaying his head from side to side just as a snake does. He is an expert cheat. When you feel he is asleep, he is only dozing. In fact, Macavity is always alert. Macavity is unique. He is evil incarnate. Ordinarily, you can find him anywhere—in a by-street or in a square. However, when you want to punish him for a crime, he is nowhere to be seen.
Stanza 1
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 crime—Macavity’s not there!
Macavity is a mysterious cat. His mystery has given him another name also—‘Hidden Paw’. He is an expert criminal who can disobey the law with impunity. His actions puzzle the police of Scotland Yard. The Flying Squad has in vain tried to chase him. By the time they reach the scene of crime, Macavity disappears.
Stanza 2
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 crime —Macavity’s not there!
There is no one like Macavity. He has broken all man-made laws. He has broken even the law of gravity. Fakirs have mysterious powers. His floating in the air without support would astonish even a fakir. Above all when you reach the scene of crime, Macavity is nowhere to be seen.
Stanza 3
You may seek him in the basement,
you may look up in the air.
But I tell you once and once again,
Macavity’s not there!
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.
You may try to find Macavity in the basement or in the air but in vain. Thus, one who looks for him finds him nowhere—under or over the earth. Macavity is a ginger-coloured cat. He is tall and thin. If you meet him, you will easily recognise him because of his deep-set eyes.
Stanza 4
His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly domed;
His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.
He sways his head from side to side, with movements
like a snake;
And when you think he’s half asleep, he’s always wide awake
Macavity’s forehead is wrinkled. From that he appears lost in deep thinking all the time. His head sits high on his body like the dome on a building. His body is not well looked after. So the skin is dusty and the whiskers are uncombed. He moves his head from side to side like a snake. He is always alert. When you think he is dozing, he is wide awake.
Stanza 5
Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity,
For he’s a 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!
Macavity is special. There is no parallel to him. He is a devil in the body of a cat. He is morally corrupt like a monster! Ordinarily, you may find him anywhere on your way. He may be there in a by-lane or in a square. However, when, his crime is discovered and people look for him, he is nowhere to be found.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
| Mystery | mysterious |
| hidden | secret |
| master | expert |
| criminal | a legal offender |
| defy | disobey |
| bafflement | puzzle |
| despair | disappointment |
| levitation | floating in the air without support |
| stare | gaze in wonder |
| seek | look for |
| lookup | observe |
| sunken | deep-set |
| feline | cat |
| monster | devil |
| depravity | moral corruption |
| by-street | by-lane |
| discovered | found out |
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