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Quiz about T S Eliots Macavity The Mystery Cat

T. S. Eliot's "Macavity - The Mystery Cat" Quiz

This quiz is based on the poem from T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats".

A multiple-choice quiz by martinjudo. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
martinjudo

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
318,794

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
334

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 110 (9/10), Guest 180 (10/10), Guest 106 (10/10).

Question 1 of 10

1. Macavity, also called the "Mystery Cat", goes by a more unusual name. Who is this master criminal that has inspired a poem? Hint

"Mungojerrie"

"Hidden Paw"

"Griddlebone"

"Hooded Claw"

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Macavity leaves Scotland Yard in bafflement, but who does he leave in despair? Hint

The Serious Fraud Squad

Special Branch

The Serious Crimes Unit

The Flying Squad

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. "He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity. His powers of levitation would make a ... stare". What person would Macavity make stare at his powers? Hint

Lama

Magician

Fakir

Politician

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. In the poem Macavity is described. What kind of cat is he? Hint

A Ginger Cat

A Tabby Cat

A Tortoiseshell (Calico)

A Manx Tom

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. "He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a ...". What does he move like? Hint

A snake

A kite

A swing

A tail

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. When a crime has been discovered where is Macavity? Hint

He's in the shadows

He's in the crowd

He's on the roof

He's not there

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Who loses some plans and drawings in the poem, blaming Macavity for their loss? Hint

The War Office

The Admiralty

The Home Office

The Foreign Office

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. When the authorities go to find him he is either "resting, or a-licking of his thumbs," or some unusual activity. Which activity does the "Mystery Cat" engage in? Hint

"Planning a dinner party"

"Fluffing his tail"

"Planning a daring caper"

"Doing complicated long division sums"

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Who always states that when a Treaty, or some plans and drawings, have gone missing that it was Macavity who is to blame? Hint

The Special Branch

The Secret Service

The Flying Squad

The Home Office

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. At the end of the poem the Macavity is given a moniker. What nickname is he called? Hint

The "Biggs of Crime"

The "Moriarty of Crime"

The "Napoleon of Crime"

The "Crippen of Crime"

Most Recent Scores

Mar 20 2024 : Guest 110: 9/10
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 180: 10/10
Mar 10 2024 : Guest 106: 10/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 223: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Macavity, also called the "Mystery Cat", goes by a more unusual name. Who is this master criminal that has inspired a poem?

Answer: "Hidden Paw"

"Macavity's a mystery cat: he's called the Hidden Paw-
For he's the master criminal who can defy the Law."
The "Hooded Claw" comes from the cartoon series "The Perils of Penelope Pitstop".
Mungojerrie and Griddlebone appear in the same book as Macavity and are his "agents" in his criminal escapades.

2. Macavity leaves Scotland Yard in bafflement, but who does he leave in despair?

Answer: The Flying Squad

"He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's Despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime- Macavity's not there!".

3. "He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity. His powers of levitation would make a ... stare". What person would Macavity make stare at his powers?

Answer: Fakir

Macavity appears in the musical "Cats" which is based on the book of poems by T.S. Eliot. He seems to have the ability to hypnotise the "Jellicle" cat "Old Deuteronomy" when he kidnaps him in the show.

4. In the poem Macavity is described. What kind of cat is he?

Answer: A Ginger Cat

"Macavity's a ginger cat, he's very tall and thin;". Eliot goes on to describe him as "His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly domed; His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.". This description is highly reminiscent of James Moriarty in the Sherlock Holmes stories where Arthur Conan Doyle describes Moriarty as "extremely tall and thin, his forehead domes out in a white curve, and his two eyes are deeply sunken in his head.".

5. "He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a ...". What does he move like?

Answer: A snake

This refers to the arch criminal Professor Moriarty who swayed his head "in a curiously reptilian fashion" and on whom Macavity is based.

6. When a crime has been discovered where is Macavity?

Answer: He's not there

Like the master criminal that he is, Macavity is never caught at the scene of the crime, he is long gone to his lair.

7. Who loses some plans and drawings in the poem, blaming Macavity for their loss?

Answer: The Admiralty

Macavity is described as a "fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity" and is suspected of espionage as well as other felonies.

8. When the authorities go to find him he is either "resting, or a-licking of his thumbs," or some unusual activity. Which activity does the "Mystery Cat" engage in?

Answer: "Doing complicated long division sums"

Why Macavity is doing long division I do not know and it does not say why in the poem. Maybe it is there to show how fiendishly clever he is.

9. Who always states that when a Treaty, or some plans and drawings, have gone missing that it was Macavity who is to blame?

Answer: The Secret Service

As the head of an organised crime gang with Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer and Griddlebone amongst its members Macavity is the natural suspect whenever something is purloined and he gets the blame automatically.

10. At the end of the poem the Macavity is given a moniker. What nickname is he called?

Answer: The "Napoleon of Crime"

The term "Napoleon of crime" actually comes from an Arthur Conan Doyle book "The Final Problem". The nickname referred to Professor James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes' erstwhile enemy. Holmes describes Moriarty, "He is the Napoleon of Crime, Watson. He is the organiser of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected in this great city".

Source: Author martinjudo

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
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