The poem is about a mysterious cat named Macavity who is described as a master criminal. He is able to avoid arrest for his crimes as he is never found at the scene of crimes investigated by Scotland Yard. He is seen as the most deceitful and evasive cat who always has excuses prepared and is able to defy authorities through his cunning nature and skills of misdirection. The poem compares him to a snake for his sly movements and presents him as the leader and controller of other criminal cats.

1. MACAVITY – THE
MYSTERY CAT
 by T.S.ELIOT

2. MACAVITY’S A MYSTERY CAT: HE’S CALLED THE HIDDEN PAW
FOR HE’S THE MASTER CRIMINAL WHO CAN DEFY THE LAW.
DEFY – TO
RESIST

3. HE’S THE BAFFLEMENT OF SCOTLAND YARD, THE FLYING SQUAD’S DESPAIR:
FOR WHEN THEY REACH THE SCENE OF CRIME — MACAVITY’S NOT THERE!
BAFFLEMENT –
TOTAL CONFUSION

4. MACAVITY, MACAVITY, THERE’S NO ONE LIKE MACAVITY,
HE’S BROKEN EVERY HUMAN LAW, HE BREAKS THE LAW OF GRAVITY.

5. HIS POWERS OF LEVITATION WOULD MAKE A FAKIR STARE,
AND WHEN YOU REACH THE SCENE OF CRIME — MACAVITY’S NOT THERE!
LEVITATION –
ACTION OF
RISING AND
FLOATING IN
AIR

6. 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!

7. 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.
GINGER –
ALERT AND
CAUTIOUS

8. HIS BROW IS DEEPLY LINED WITH THOUGHT, HIS HEAD IS HIGHLY DOMED;
HIS COAT IS DUSTY FROM NEGLECT, HIS WHISKERS ARE UNCOMBED.

9. 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.

10. MACAVITY, MACAVITY, THERE’S NO ONE LIKE MACAVITY,
FOR HE’S A FIEND IN FELINE SHAPE, A MONSTER OF DEPRAVITY.
FIEND -
DEMON

11. 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!

12. HE'S OUTWARDLY RESPECTABLE (THEY SAY, HE CHEATS AT CARDS)
AND HIS FOOTPRINTS ARE NOT FOUND IN ANY FILES OF SCOTLAND YARD'S

13. AND WHEN THE LARDER'S LOOTED OR THE JEWEL CASE IS RIFLED
OR WHEN THE MILK IS MISSING OR ANOTHER PEKE'S BEEN STIFLED!
LARDER –
CUPBOARD
FOR
STORING
FOOD

14. OR THE GREENHOUSE GLASS IS BROKEN AND THE TRELLIS PAST REPAIR
THERE'S THE WONDER OF THE THING MACAVITY'S NOT THERE!
TRELLIS –
WOODEN BAR
FOR
CREEPERS

15. AND WHEN THE FOREIGN OFFICE FIND A TREATY'S GONE ASTRAY,
OR THE ADMIRALTY LOSE SOME PLANS AND DRAWINGS BY THE WAY,
ADMIRALTY –
DEPARTMENT
OF BRITISH
NAVY

16. THERE MAY BE A SCRAP OF PAPER IN THE HALL OR ON THE STAIR—
BUT IT'S USELESS TO INVESTIGATE—MACAVITY'S NOT THERE!

17. YOU'LL BE SURE TO FIND HIM RESTING, OR A-LICKING OF HIS THUMB;
OR ENGAGED IN DOING COMPLICATED LONG DIVISION SUMS.

18. MACAVITY, MACAVITY, THERE'S NO ONE LIKE MACAVITY,
THERE NEVER WAS A CAT OF SUCH DECEITFULNESS AND SUAVITY.
DECEITFULNESS -
CUNNINGNESS

19. HE ALWAYS HAS AN ALIBI, AND ONE OR TWO TO SPARE:
AT WHATEVER TIME THE DEED TOOK PLACE—MACAVITY WASN'T THERE !
AND THEY SAY THAT ALL THE CATS WHOSE WICKED DEEDS ARE WIDELY KNOWN
ALIBI –
CLAIM OF
EVIDENCE

20. (I MIGHT MENTION MUNGOJERRIE, I MIGHT MENTION GRIDDLEBONE)
ARE NOTHING MORE THAN AGENTS FOR THE CAT WHO ALL THE TIME
JUST CONTROLS THEIR OPERATIONS: THE NAPOLEON OF CRIME!
LEADER OF
CRIMINALS

26. 1.Does the poet talk about a real cat?
No, the poet does not talk about real cat.
2. Why is he called the hidden paw?
He is called the hidden paw as he is the
master criminal who can defy any law.

27. 3.What is Scotland yard?
Scotland yard is the headquarters of
London Metropolitan police service.
4. Why does the flying squad feel
disappointed?
The flying squad feels disappointed as
Macavity is miles away from the scene of
crime.

28. 5.Explain the comparison made in
the poem?
Macavity’s movement of head is compared
to snake’s movement of hood.
6. What does he pretend to do?
He pretends to be half asleep but he is
wide awake.

29. 7.How is the cat described in this line?
The cat is described as devil inside.
8. Explain the phrase “monster of depravity”?
Monster of depravity means animal with evil
quality.

30. 9.What seems to be a challenge for the
Scotland yard?
Unable to arrest the cat seems to be a
challenge for the Scotland yard.
10. Why do they need his footprints?
They need his footprints to fix the crime
and arrest the cat.

31. 11.What is Macavity blamed
for?
Macavity is blamed for the loss of
documents in office.
12. Where is he?
He is miles away from the scene of crime.

32. 13.Which cat is being talked of?
Macavity is being talked of.
14. How is he different from the rest?
He is the leader of all wicked cats. So he
is the Napoleon of crime