Cat (poem): Difference between revisions
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{{disambig-more|Cat|[[Cat (disambiguation)]]}} | {{disambig-more|Cat|[[Cat (disambiguation)]]}} | ||
'''Cat''' is a poem written by [[Sam Gamgee]] and recorded in the [[Red Book of Westmarch]], although at most he only touched up an older piece. [[Hobbits]] appear to have been fond of comic bestiary lore, of which this is an example.<ref> | '''Cat''' is a poem written by [[Sam Gamgee]] and recorded in the [[Red Book of Westmarch]], although at most he only touched up an older piece. [[Hobbits]] appear to have been fond of comic bestiary lore, of which this is an example.<ref>{{AB|Preface}}</ref> | ||
The poem contains two stanzas composed of alternating longer and shorter lines. It relies on assonance, the refrain of vowel sounds, to create internal rhyming. | The poem contains two stanzas composed of alternating longer and shorter lines. It relies on assonance, the refrain of vowel sounds, to create internal rhyming. | ||
[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] apparently made use in the poem of a device found in medieval bestiaries (several such manuscripts are kept by the [[Bodleian Library]] at [[Oxford]]): the pairing of [[lions]] and [[pards]].<ref>"[http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast116.htm Pard]" at [http://bestiary.ca/ The Medieval Bestiary] (accessed 12 March 2011)</ref> | [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] wrote the poem for his [[Joanna Tolkien|granddaughter]] in [[1956]].<ref>{{AB|Intro}}</ref> He apparently made use in the poem of a device found in medieval bestiaries (several such manuscripts are kept by the [[Bodleian Library]] at [[Oxford]]): the pairing of [[lions]] and [[pards]].<ref>"[http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast116.htm Pard]" at [http://bestiary.ca/ The Medieval Bestiary] (accessed 12 March 2011)</ref> | ||
It was published as the twelfth poem in ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'' (1962). | It was published as the twelfth poem in ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'' (1962).<ref>{{AB|Cat}}</ref> The poem has also been published separately in the anthology ''[[The Poetical Cat]]'' (1995). | ||
==The Poem== | ==The Poem== | ||
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and huge ruthless tooth | and huge ruthless tooth | ||
in gory jaw; | in gory jaw; | ||
the pard,<ref group="note">''Pard'' can refer to:<br> 1) an archaic term for ''[[wikipedia:leopard|leopard]]'' <br>2) [[Wikipedia:Pard (legendary creature)|a feline creature in medieval bestiaries]]</ref> dark-starred, | the [[pard]],<ref group="note">''Pard'' can refer to:<br> 1) an archaic term for ''[[wikipedia:leopard|leopard]]'' <br>2) [[Wikipedia:Pard (legendary creature)|a feline creature in medieval bestiaries]]</ref> dark-starred, | ||
fleet upon feet, | fleet upon feet, | ||
that oft soft from aloft | that oft soft from aloft | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien]] | * [[Index:Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien|Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien]] | ||
{{references|note}} | {{references|note}} | ||
{{title}} | |||
[[Category:Poems | [[Category:Cats]] | ||
[[Category:Poems in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]] |
Revision as of 07:03, 4 February 2021
Cat is a poem written by Sam Gamgee and recorded in the Red Book of Westmarch, although at most he only touched up an older piece. Hobbits appear to have been fond of comic bestiary lore, of which this is an example.[1]
The poem contains two stanzas composed of alternating longer and shorter lines. It relies on assonance, the refrain of vowel sounds, to create internal rhyming.
Tolkien wrote the poem for his granddaughter in 1956.[2] He apparently made use in the poem of a device found in medieval bestiaries (several such manuscripts are kept by the Bodleian Library at Oxford): the pairing of lions and pards.[3]
It was published as the twelfth poem in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (1962).[4] The poem has also been published separately in the anthology The Poetical Cat (1995).
The Poem
The fat cat on the mat
may seem to dream
of nice mice that suffice
for him, or cream;
but he free, maybe,
walks in thought
unbowed, proud, where loud
roared and fought
his kin, lean and slim,
or deep in den
in the East feasted on beasts
and tender men.
The giant lion with iron
claw in paw,
and huge ruthless tooth
in gory jaw;
the pard,[note 1] dark-starred,
fleet upon feet,
that oft soft from aloft
leaps on his meat
where woods loom in gloom--
far now they be,
fierce and free,
and tamed is he;
but fat cat on the mat
kept as a pet,
he does not forget.
See also
Notes
- ↑ Pard can refer to:
1) an archaic term for leopard
2) a feline creature in medieval bestiaries
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Preface"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond (eds), The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Introduction"
- ↑ "Pard" at The Medieval Bestiary (accessed 12 March 2011)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Cat"