Analyzing J. R. Tolkien's Poem 'The Cat'
J.R.R. Tolkien
I selected this poem because of the depth of the writing. J.R.R. Tolkien was a master of words, and with this poem, he paints not just a picture of cats and their regal ancestors, but of all beings remembering their past. It is a reminder to humans too, that we would not be as content and happy, like the cat on the mat, except for the work and toil of our ancestors. Tolkien’s language increases in complexity as it describes the wildcat ancestors of the housecat, but becomes simpler again when the focus returns to the cat on the mat. This was an interesting way to convey the differences between them, other than literal word meaning.
The Cat
The fat cat on the mat may seem to dream of nice mice that suffice for him, or cream; …show more content…
He wrote about African-American oppression and struggles in his artful writing. This poem is an important one, because it deals with a racial identity. White supremacists are completely aware of their race, and use it to dominate others. This is both wrong and disgusting. Langston Hughes, in this poem, compares himself to his mule, by saying he is like his mule in that “He’s forgotten about his race”. While it is important to remember your ancestors, in this poem, Hughes is trying to convey that he doesn’t want to be treated differently because of his skin color, especially if he himself no longer sees it as different. Further proof of his oppression by others is how easily he compares himself to a mule, most likely because of others insulting him as such. Most importantly, the poem wants readers to know that we are all part of the human family, and that is all the connection we …show more content…
The author describes how as a child, dust covered his town, but “I was one of the children told Some of the blowing dust was gold”. This blatant lie from his elders was meant only to pacify him and the other children, seeing as the “gold dusted all we drank and ate”. It most likely convinced him to cope with the dust, but as he grew up, and increased his common sense, he probably lost respect for the people who told him that there was gold in the dust. Such was the sad reality of the time. Because of people like these suffering, eventually reforms happened, and The United States industrialized, forming the superpower we are as a country today. It is still important to remember the terrible conditions, people, and even children suffered through, before our
I selected this poem because of the depth of the writing. J.R.R. Tolkien was a master of words, and with this poem, he paints not just a picture of cats and their regal ancestors, but of all beings remembering their past. It is a reminder to humans too, that we would not be as content and happy, like the cat on the mat, except for the work and toil of our ancestors. Tolkien’s language increases in complexity as it describes the wildcat ancestors of the housecat, but becomes simpler again when the focus returns to the cat on the mat. This was an interesting way to convey the differences between them, other than literal word meaning.
The Cat
The fat cat on the mat may seem to dream of nice mice that suffice for him, or cream; …show more content…
He wrote about African-American oppression and struggles in his artful writing. This poem is an important one, because it deals with a racial identity. White supremacists are completely aware of their race, and use it to dominate others. This is both wrong and disgusting. Langston Hughes, in this poem, compares himself to his mule, by saying he is like his mule in that “He’s forgotten about his race”. While it is important to remember your ancestors, in this poem, Hughes is trying to convey that he doesn’t want to be treated differently because of his skin color, especially if he himself no longer sees it as different. Further proof of his oppression by others is how easily he compares himself to a mule, most likely because of others insulting him as such. Most importantly, the poem wants readers to know that we are all part of the human family, and that is all the connection we …show more content…
The author describes how as a child, dust covered his town, but “I was one of the children told Some of the blowing dust was gold”. This blatant lie from his elders was meant only to pacify him and the other children, seeing as the “gold dusted all we drank and ate”. It most likely convinced him to cope with the dust, but as he grew up, and increased his common sense, he probably lost respect for the people who told him that there was gold in the dust. Such was the sad reality of the time. Because of people like these suffering, eventually reforms happened, and The United States industrialized, forming the superpower we are as a country today. It is still important to remember the terrible conditions, people, and even children suffered through, before our