The Naming of Cats
by Thomas Sterns Eliot
The Poem:
"The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey-
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter -
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum -
Names that never belongs to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover -
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice you cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name."
The Summary of the Poem:
The naming of the cats is not an easy task like holiday games. According to the poet, it is a difficult task. The reader may think that the poet is out of his mind when he suggests that there are three different types of names of cats. The first type is the names which the family use daily i.e. Peter, Augustus, Alonzo, James, Victor, Jonathan, George and Bill Bailey. The names are fancier names he suggests i.e. Plato, Admetus, Electra and Demeter. The second types of names are of particular and peculiar names that never belong to more than one cat i.e. Munkustrap, Quaxo, Coricopat, Bombalurina and Jellylorum. This type of name boost the pride and gesture of the cats.
Above all these types of names, there is the third type of names which human can never guess. This types of names are known to the cats themselves only and they never confess it to anyone. Moreover, the poet also informs us that whenever a cot is found in profound thinking, he is actually thinking about his name only. A very rare name.
COMPREHENSION
1. Answer the following questions.
a. Why does the poet say that the reader may think he is crazy?
= The reader may think the poet crazy when says about the three different types of names of the cats.
b. What is the first type of name that a cat should have?
= The first type of name that a cat should have is the name that the family use daily.
c. What is the second type of name that a cat should have?
= The second type of name that a cat should have is the sweeter and fancier name.
d. How many female names (of the first type) does the poet suggest?
= The poet suggests no female names of the first type. All the names he suggests are of male cats i.e. Peter, Augustus, Alonzo, James, Victor, Jonathan, George and Bill Bailey.
e. Which fancier names does the poet suggest?
= The poet suggests the fancier names like Plato, Admetus, Electra and Demeter.
f. In what way will a cat be able to behave if he is given a name that is particular?
= If a cat is given a name that is particular, he will keep up his tail perpendicular, he will spread out his whiskers and cherish his pride.
g. What is the third type of name that a cat must have? How is it different from the other two types?
= This types of names are known to the cats themselves only and they never confess it to anyone.
The third type of names are different from the other two types of names as human can never guess it.
h. When a cat is in 'profound meditation' what is it thinking about?
= When a cat is in 'profound meditation', it is thinking about its name.
These questions are more difficult. Discuss them first.
i. Why do you think the 'particular' names suggested for a cat may 'never belong to more than one cat'? Can you suggest other such names?
= I think the 'particular' names suggested for a cat may 'never belong to more than one cat' as they are peculiar and dignified names. This type of names are given to each cats according to their individual characteristics. As every cat is different from each other, they hold unique characteristics. So their names are also unique and 'never belong to more than one cat'.
Other such names may be - QuarrelQueen, ScratchyDick, RigidRambo, SongKingy etc.
j. What do you think cats think about when they are not asleep?
= I think cats think about their next prey when they are not asleep. They must plan to catch the bigger mice. Think of their friends and family. They are fierce carnivores animals. Practically they don't care about their names.
k. Work with a partner and think of five names to add to each of the groups of names already suggested by the poet. Compare your lists.
= Names to add in the first group - Leo, Charlie, Paul, Willow and Oliver.
Names to add in the second group are - HustleBustle, Tantrumy, LazyTim, Unikkorn and Romeoz.
Names to add in the third group - MilkyMaid, LondonDeo, SunSuuny, Pouchy, and FannyFiesta.
2. Answer the following with reference to context.
a. "All of them sensible everyday names."
i. What are some of these names?
= Some of these names are Peter, Augustus, Alonzo, James, Victor, Jonathan, George and Bill Bailey.
ii. When are these names used?
= These names are used in the family daily.
iii. Are there any other names by which a cat might be called? How are they different from these names?
= Yes, there are names by which a cat might be called. They are sweeter and fancier names. These names are used by gentlemen and ladies in special occasions.
b. "But above and beyond there's still one name left over..."
i. Above and beyond what?
= Above and beyond the two types of names of the cats.
ii. What is the name left over?
= The name left over is the third type of names of the cat. This type of name is known to the cats only. They don't disclose these names to any one. Even human beings can not guess them.
iii. How does a cat show it is thinking about this name?
= When a cat is in profound meditation, it is thinking about its name. His mind is engaged in a deep thinking of thoughts of his name.
About the Poet:
Thomas Sterns Eliot (1888-1965) was born in St Louis, Missouri, USA. He was a poet, playwright and literary critic. His writing was usually very complex and his long poems had many references to historical and mythological people and incidents. However, he also wrote many humorous poems about cats, in a book called Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. These poems were put to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber to create a musical, Cats, which became a hit in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York.