Thomas GrayThomas Gray

Brian Buchter and Ryan Fox

http://http://rpo.library.utorpo.library.utoronto.caronto.ca

BiographyBiography

Thomas Gray was born December 26, 1716 at 41 Cornhill London. He was one of twelve children. He was the only one to survive childhood out of his brothers and sisters. From 1725 to 1734, Gray attended Eton college. His mother paid for his education. At college, he took interest in entomology and botany, along with poetry classes. In 1742, Gray wrote his most famous poems including Ode on the Spring, Hymn to Ignorance, and Ode to Adversity. In 1747 he got married. In 1748 appeared the first three volume of Dodsley’s collection, which contained Ode on the Spring and the poem Ode on the Death of my Favorite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes. Gray died on July 30, 1771. In 1790, a monument to Grays memory was erected in the Stoke Poges.

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

Thomas Gray was a well recognized Thomas Gray was a well recognized poet in England. He was one of the poet in England. He was one of the finest poets from England at the finest poets from England at the time. When he died a monument was time. When he died a monument was erected in his honor. He is known as erected in his honor. He is known as one of England’s finest poets. When one of England’s finest poets. When he was alive he was awarded many he was alive he was awarded many honors for his poetic works. honors for his poetic works.

Historical, literary, and social Historical, literary, and social context for poemcontext for poem

When Thomas Gray wrote this poem When Thomas Gray wrote this poem his best friends cat had just died. his best friends cat had just died. Thomas Gray wrote this poem to try Thomas Gray wrote this poem to try and cheer up his friend. That is way and cheer up his friend. That is way he made the poem a comedic poem. he made the poem a comedic poem.

Ode On The Death Of A Favorite Cat Drowned Ode On The Death Of A Favorite Cat Drowned In A Tub Of GoldfishesIn A Tub Of Goldfishes

Twas on a lofty vase's side,Twas on a lofty vase's side,Where China's gayest art had dyed. Where China's gayest art had dyed. The azure flow's that blow;The azure flow's that blow;Demurest of the tabby kind,Demurest of the tabby kind,The pensive Selima, reclined,The pensive Selima, reclined,Gazed on the lake below.Gazed on the lake below.

Her conscious tail her joy declared; The Her conscious tail her joy declared; The fair round face, the snowy beard, The fair round face, the snowy beard, The velvet of her paws, Her coat, that with velvet of her paws, Her coat, that with the tortoise vies, Her ears of jet, and the tortoise vies, Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes, She saw: and purred emerald eyes, She saw: and purred applause.applause.

Still had she gazed; but 'midst the tide. Still had she gazed; but 'midst the tide. Two angel forms were seen to glide, Two angel forms were seen to glide, The Genii of the stream;The Genii of the stream;Their scaly armor's Tyrian hueTheir scaly armor's Tyrian hueThro' richest purple to the viewThro' richest purple to the viewBetrayed a golden gleam.Betrayed a golden gleam.

The hapless Nymph with wonder saw:The hapless Nymph with wonder saw:A whisker first and then a claw,A whisker first and then a claw,With many an ardent wish,With many an ardent wish,She stretched in vain to reach the She stretched in vain to reach the prize.prize.What female heart can gold despise?What female heart can gold despise?What cat's averse to fish?What cat's averse to fish?

The hapless Nymph with wonder saw:The hapless Nymph with wonder saw:A whisker first and then a claw,A whisker first and then a claw,With many an ardent wish,With many an ardent wish,She stretched in vain to reach the prize.She stretched in vain to reach the prize.What female heart can gold despise?What female heart can gold despise?What cat's averse to fish?What cat's averse to fish?

Presumptuous Maid! with looks intentPresumptuous Maid! with looks intentAgain she stretched, again she bent,Again she stretched, again she bent,Nor knew the gulf between.Nor knew the gulf between.(Malignant Fate sat by, and smiled)(Malignant Fate sat by, and smiled)The slippery verge her feet beguiled,The slippery verge her feet beguiled,She tumbled headlong in.She tumbled headlong in.

Eight times emerging from the floodEight times emerging from the floodShe mewed to every watery god,She mewed to every watery god,Some speedy aid to send.Some speedy aid to send.No Dolphin came, no Nereid stirred;No Dolphin came, no Nereid stirred;Nor cruel Tom, nor Susan heard.Nor cruel Tom, nor Susan heard.A Favorite has no friend!A Favorite has no friend!

From hence, ye Beauties, undeceived,From hence, ye Beauties, undeceived,Know, one false step is ne'er retrieved,Know, one false step is ne'er retrieved,And be with caution bold.And be with caution bold.Not all that tempts your wandering eyesNot all that tempts your wandering eyesAnd heedless hearts is lawful prize,And heedless hearts is lawful prize,Nor all, that glisters, gold. Nor all, that glisters, gold.

Poetic Structure and Rhyme Poetic Structure and Rhyme SchemeScheme

The rhyme scheme of The rhyme scheme of Ode On The Ode On The Death Of ADeath Of A Favorite Cat Drowned Favorite Cat Drowned In A Tub Of Goldfishes isIn A Tub Of Goldfishes is AABCCB. AABCCB. The poetic structure of the poem is a The poetic structure of the poem is a Thematic Structure. Thematic Structure.

Poem OverviewPoem Overview

The poem is meant to be a comedic The poem is meant to be a comedic outlook on a tragic event. The tragic outlook on a tragic event. The tragic event in the poem is the death of the event in the poem is the death of the man’s favorite cat. The comedy is man’s favorite cat. The comedy is that it drowned in a tub of goldfishes. that it drowned in a tub of goldfishes.

Summary Summary

The cat was just trying to get some food The cat was just trying to get some food when it fell in to a tub of goldfishes where when it fell in to a tub of goldfishes where it eventually died. The cat was tempted by it eventually died. The cat was tempted by the fish swimming around and finally gave the fish swimming around and finally gave into that temptation. The cat tried its best into that temptation. The cat tried its best to survive but it just couldn’t stop itself to survive but it just couldn’t stop itself from drowning. The cat even tried to call from drowning. The cat even tried to call to a water god to rescue it but it never to a water god to rescue it but it never received help. received help.

FormForm

The form/structure of The form/structure of Ode on the Ode on the Death of a Favorite CatDeath of a Favorite Cat, , Drowned Drowned in ain a Tub of Goldfishes is a Tub of Goldfishes is a Horatian Ode. Horatian Ode.

Literary DevicesLiterary Devices

Gray uses word choice, allusions, and Gray uses word choice, allusions, and repetition in this poem. He uses allusions repetition in this poem. He uses allusions when the cat is praying to the water god for when the cat is praying to the water god for help. He repeats that the cat is drowning in a help. He repeats that the cat is drowning in a tub of goldfishes many times in this poem. tub of goldfishes many times in this poem. Word choice is the wording that Gray used in Word choice is the wording that Gray used in the poem. Allusion is when the object in the the poem. Allusion is when the object in the poem sees things that are not there. poem sees things that are not there. Repetition is saying the same thing over and Repetition is saying the same thing over and over to get a point across. over to get a point across.

Works Cited Works Cited

Thomas Gray (1716-1771)." Thomas Gray (1716-1771)." http://rpo.library.utoronto.cahttp://rpo.library.utoronto.ca. 20 Apr. 2004. 21 . 20 Apr. 2004. 21 Feb. 2008 Feb. 2008 <http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/885.html>. <http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/885.html>.

"The Thomas Gray Archives." "The Thomas Gray Archives." Thomasgray.OrgThomasgray.Org. . 03 Dec. 2007. 21 Feb. 2008 03 Dec. 2007. 21 Feb. 2008 <http://www.thomasgray.org/materials/bio.shtml<http://www.thomasgray.org/materials/bio.shtml>. >.

"The Dead Kitty in Ode on the Death of a Favorite "The Dead Kitty in Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat (Favorite)." Cat (Favorite)." 123HelpMe.com123HelpMe.com. 21 Feb 2008 . 21 Feb 2008     <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?    <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=7339>. id=7339>.