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Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Poem Summary, Theme, Critical Analysis by T.S. Eliot

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Summary

The poem starts with the poet’s journey at the railway station. It is a narrative poem that tells us about Skimbleshanks, an extraordinary cat doing extraordinary acts on the train named “Night Mail”. The Night Mail is ready to start but everyone is restless and their murmuring and confused movements give us a feeling that they are waiting for someone to give” green signal” for the journey.

At last when it was 11:42 we see Skimbleshanks coming out of the luggage van and then the signal “All Clear” is given by Skimbleshanks. The train is set for the North. The cat is portrayed as the manager of the train always busy in managing it or in other words he is in charge of the train. The cat is very meticulous and has a keen eye for details and does not discriminate between first and third class passengers. He is seen managing the bagmen playing cards He examines every passenger and that gives us to feel that he never approves of any riot.

They are naturally quiet at night. It gives us an impression of how he is responsible for such a calm and peaceful atmosphere. He makes sure that there is no speck of dust on the floor and all the berths are neatly dusted with a newly folded sheet. He makes everything neat and tidy and is kind to everyone. We see Skimbleshanks safeguarding the railway passengers throughout their journey and wins their trust and respect in the poem.

It is he who made the guard to ask the preference of the passengers whether they would have weak or strong tea in the morning. The poet makes witty comments on the cat’s habit of drinking scotch whisky to make his night more vigilant. At every station the cat gets out of the train and refreshes himself.

As the train stops by, in many places like Dumfries, Carlisle, Crewe and Gallowgate, the poet talks about the various kinds of activities and deeds done by the cat. Skimbleshanks is a perfectionist and is also pedantic. In the morning when a passenger reaches his or her destination, the cat is seen in front bidding goodbye. Since Skimbleshanks is so perfect therefore the train is organized and the passengers have a happy journey. Thus they travel on the Night Mail again’

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat About the Author T.S. Eliot

Thomas Steams Eliot better known as T. S. Eliot was an essayist, publisher, playwright, literary and social critic and one of the major poets of the twentieth century. He was born in St Louis, Missouri, on September 26, 1888 and died on January 1965 Eliot was to pursue four careers; editor, dramatist, literary critic and philosophical poet.

He was probably the most erudite poet of his time in the English language. He received honorary degrees from twelve universities in Europe. His first book of poems, PRUFROCK AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS was published in 1917. With the publication of his poem THE WASTELAND in 1922, Eliot won an international reputation.

It consists of five sections and proceeds on a principle of “rhetorical discontinuity” that reflects the fragmented experience of the 20th century sensibility of the great modern cities of the west. Other notable works T. S. Eliot include FOUR QUARTETS (1943) and the play MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL (1935). His awards and honors include the British Order of Merit and the Nobel Prize for literature which he one in 1948.

Again his play THE COCKTAIL PARTY won the 1950 Tony Award for the best play. In 1964, T. S Eliot was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. OLD POSSUM’S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS was adapted in 1981 into the musical cats, which won seven Tony Awards. Among his non fictions are THE SECOND ORDER MIND, TRADITION AND THE INDIVIDUAL TALENT. CHRISTIANITY AND CULTURE etc.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Theme

In the poem Skimbleshanks-The Railway Cat”, we find Skimbleshanks to be obsessed with perfection and he is well organised and punctilious. Even though he is a cat, he is the reason why everything in the Midnight Mail is perfect and under control. So the theme of this poem is perfection which is not only pretty but also important in everything.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Critical Analysis

When we first read the poem “Skimbleshanks-The Railway Cat” of T. S. Eliot,we can think about it’s meaning as absurd. It is quite natural for the readers to respond in such a way.

The first thing that we can do for understanding the basic idea of this poem is to see it as a simple entertaining rhyme. In this poem,T. S. Eliot is a simple minded traveller who observes the movement of Skimbleshanks-The Railway Cat. He describes the cat as a normal human being. The poet is to start his journey in the Night Mail, a British West Coast Main Line train which ran from London to Scotland. We find veryone in a confused situation, murmuring about

Skimbleshanks. The guards, the stationmaster’s daughter, the passengers, the porters all are seen waiting for Skimbleshanks to give a green signal for the train to depart. At last when it is 11:42, we see Skimble coming out of the luggage van and then he gives his signal “All Clear” and the train is set for the North.

The poet says that throughout the journey whenever he opened his eyes or wherever the train stopped, he could see the cat somewhere on the train or out on the platform. This presence of Skimbleshanks everywhere on the train, platform and station gives an impression that he is someone very important and is in-charge of the train.

He is attributed with the roles of a supervisor and a patrolling police officer. He is seen to be wandering in the first class as well as in the third class compartments. He is also present there supervising the bagmen playing cards. Thus he is found to be examining every passengers. The calmness and serenity of the night leaves an impression that he never approves of any riots.

Naturally the passengers remain quiet. So we can say that Skimbleshanks is responsible for such a calm and serene atmosphere. He is very intelligent and clever. He writes the passenger’s names on the door of the train. The passengers find their berths neat and tidy with new blankets. The floor is seen to be absolutely spick and span. Light can be adjusted accordingly and there is also a fan and a beautiful basin. One can shut window if felt cold.

In the poem while the poet goes to bed in his cabin, he sees the cat behind the guard. This is because it is he who made the guard, to ask the passengers of their preferences of weak or strong tea in the morning. Even when the passengers are sleeping peacefully, the cat is seen to be wandering on the train. The poet here makes a witty comment on the cats habits of drinking scotch whisky.

This is because to make Skimbleshank’s night watch more vigilant. Again Skimbleshanks is seen to be getting out of the train at every station and refreshing himself. The cat is seen catching fleas and mice. In other words Skimbleshanks in the poem is shown to be a perfectionist, taking care of even the minute things. He is seen to ensure that everything is running smoothly.

As the train stops at Dumfries, Crewe, Carlisle and Gallowgate-the different stations, the cat is seen doing his various deeds. This shows that he is very accurate. In the morning when a passenger reaches his or her destination, Skimbleshanks can be seen in front bidding the passenger good bye. He gives a wave of his long brown tail and tells the passengers “I’ll see you again”.

We find that in this poem, the poet describes the importance and significance of Skimbleshanks and presents him to be the most important person who checks everything like a detective and remembers the faces of persons. He portrays how Skimbleshanks cater to the needs of the passengers and the general security of the train.

Not only this, through this poem we can say that Skimble’s intense surveillance of his passengers comes from love. He cares deeply about a good railway experience. He can see into one’s thoughts. He just wants a peaceful time for everybody. He is a cat who means business, whose authority must be respected. His authority is kind as long as he is obeyed (he will spot any offence). Skimbleshanks will love you.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Title of the Story

The title of the poem, by T. S. Eliot is SKIMBLESHANKS- THE RAILWAY CAT. From the very title we can well understand that Skimbleshanks is a cat and so it makes an impression that he is in charge of a train in the railway station. As we read the poem, we can see that the poet describes Skimbleshanks as the most important one in the railway station.

He is the hero of the NIGHT MAIL train. The poem is about this cat Skimbleshanks. The Night Mail is ready to start. The railway staffs are in commotion to find Skimbleshanks as he is the manager of the train. They are waiting for Skimbleshanks to give a” green signal” for the journey. At last at 11:42 we see Skimbleshanks coming out of the luggage van.

He then gives a signal of “All clear” and at last the poet along with the other passengers in the train were off for the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere. In the second stanza the poet says that Skimbleshanks supervises the driver, the guards and the bagmen playing cards. He moves around the corridor to examine all the faces of the first as well as the third class passengers of the Sleeping Car Express. By now it is clear to us, what role Skimbleshanks plays.

He examines every passengers and we may feel that he approves no riot. He is like a patrolling police officer. So it is quite natural for the passengers to be quiet and calm. He also knows what other passengers are thinking. Thus it is again Skimbleshanks who is responsible for the calm atmosphere.
On the next stanza,we find the poet saying about Skimbleshanks being perfect, when he writes the names of the passengers so that they can find their places in the compartments of the train easily.

The poet finds the berths neat and clean with “newly folded” blanket, with no dust on the floor. There the poet and the other passengers can find light, fan, basin to wash faces and a handle to shut the window if someone sneezes. All these show that Skimbleshanks is not only meticulous but also can be said to safeguard the railway passengers throughout the journey.

Everyone sleeps peacefully but Skimbleshanks continues his “rounds” on the train. He is there to ask the passengers, their preferences of weak or strong tea in the morning. Skimbleshanks is in a habit of drinking scotch whisky to make his night vigilance strong. He refreshes himself by getting out of the train at every station. The whole poem is about Skimbleshanks.

Before ending the poem, the poet again describes how the cat gives a wave of his long brown tail to the passengers thus bidding goodbye to them and saying them “I’ll see you again” Thus the cat caters to the needs of the passengers and the security of the Night Mail. After reading the whole poem, we can say that the title of the poem as Skimbleshanks- The Railway Cat is very appropriate.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat About The Poem

SKIMBLESHANKS- THE RAILWAY CAT- is a poem that is full of rhythm and races along,to the beat of a fast passenger train. This poem is one of Eliot’s ‘cat’ poem, which first appeared in the collection of Eliot’s poems called OLD POSSUM’S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS.

Skimbleshanks is almost human, the master who knows well the most important passenger on the Sleeping Car Express. In this poem the character of Skimbleshanks is portrayed as a bright and diligent tabby cat who works on the, male train and he is in charge of the train. The cat is attributed with the roles of a supervisor and a patrolling police officer.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Main Point Of The Poem

SKIMBLESHANKS – THE RAILWAY CAT by T. S Eliot glorifies an ordinary cat who is said to be possessing supernatural powers to safeguard the railway passangers through out their journey in a perfect and well-organized way. So the poem is actually a satire that ridicules our unnecessary dependence upon the supernatural.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Linewise Summary

1. There’s a whisper down the line at 11:39
When the Night Mails ready to depart,
Saying “Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble?

We must find him or the train can’t start”
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster’s daughters
They are searching high and low,
Saying “Skimble where is Skimble for unless he’s very nimble
The Night mail just can’t go”
At 11,42 then the singas’s nearly due
And the passengers are frantic to a man-
Then Skimble will appear and he’ll saunter to the rear:
He’s been busy in the luggage van!

He gives one flash of his glass-green eyes
And the signal goes “All Clear!”
And we’re off at last for the northern part
Of the Northern Hemisphere.

The poem opens with the whisper going down the railway line. lt is time for the departure of the train named the Night Mail Express. lt is the time of ll:39.Near the railway line everyone is whispering about the departure of the train because the signal for departure is to be given, but the one who is in charge of giving the signal for the departure of it, is not here.

He is none other than Skimble Shanks. So everyone, is calling Skimbleshanks by his name. Everyone is discussing whether Skimbleshanks has gone to hunt the thimble. Thimble here refers to a party game in which one person hides a thimble on other small objects somewhere in the room, while all the players are outside.

The Skimble shanks has gone to hunt the thimble while everyone present in the station was waiting like all the players outside. They said that they must find Skimbleshanks or the train can’t start. All the guards, the porters, station master’s daughters are searching everywhere in the station for
skimbleshanks.

They said that unless skimble in very agile and sprightly, the Night Mail will not be able to go that is unless he comes and shows his energy and agility and the activity the Night Mail will not be able to start. At 11:42, the time for the signal has already arrived and the passengers are crazy and panic-stricken for only one man that is Skimbleshanks.

Here Skimbleshanks has been personified as a man. Then Skimbleshanks is seen ambling in the rear of the train after which he is busy in the luggage van. When ultimately the time has come for the signal to be given, Skimbleshanks gives the signal of “All Clear” and train starts.

The poet presents himself as the passenger of the train and he with the other passengers have left the station for the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere. In this stanza we see that how Skimbleshanks acts as the supervisor of the railway station and the train. In this stanza we see that unless he gives a signal of all is clear, the train can’t leave.

2. “You may say that by and large it is
Skimble who’s in charge of the Sleeping Car Express.
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards
He will supervise them all, more or less.
Down the corridor, he paces and examines all the faces

Of the travellors in the First and the Third;
He establishes control by a regular patrol
And he’d know at once if anything occurred.
He will watch you without winking and he sees what you are thinking

And it’s certain that he dosen’t approve
Of hilarity and riot so the folk are very quiet
When Skimble is about and on the move.
You can play no pranks with Skimbleshanks!

He’s a Cat that cannot be ignored;
So nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail
When Skimbleshanks is abroad”

In the second stanza the poet tells directly about Skimbleshank’s activities or duties which he performs perfectly in the railway station. He is incharge of the sleeping Car Express and it is his duty to supervise the guards, the bagmen, and the driver of the train.

We also find Skimbleshanks going down the corridor of the first and as well as the third class compartments without any discrimination and examining the faces of all the travelers present there. By regular patrolling, Skimbleshanks is keen that he knows if anything occurred or not.

He watches the passengers so minutely that he is able to see or say what they are thinking. He never approves of any riot or even amusement. So when skimbleshanks is about or on movement, all the passengers are quiet. In this stanza Skimbleshanks is not only shown responsible, dutiful and meticulous but also a strict supervisor.

So he is a cat who cannot be ignored or cannot be played pranks on. So it is obvious that on the Northern Mail nothing goes wrong; everything remains perfect when Skimbleshanks is present there. He is a perfectionist and organizes everything in a perfect way.

3. Oh it’s very pleasant when you have found your little den
With your name written up on the door.
And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet
And there’s not a speck of dust on the floor.

There is every sort of light-you can make it dark or bright;
There’s a handle that you turn to make a breeze.
There’s a funny little basin you’re supposed to wash your face in
And a crank to shut the window if you sneeze.

Then the tuard looks in politely and will ask you very brightly
“Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?”
But Skimble’s just behind him and was ready to remind him,
For Skimble won’t let anything go wrong.

In the third stanza, when the passengers go to their respective compartments, they find their names written up on the door. When they board the train, they find their berths to be spick and span with new folded blanket. The floors are also neat and tidy and not a speck of dust is to be found anywhere. The compartments have all sorts of lights, which can be adjusted to bright as well as dim ones. There are also fans with handles which when turned, make breeze. There are also basins for washing faces for the passengers.

In other words all the things needed for the men while travelling are provided to them. If a passenger sneezes due to cold, he can shut the window with the help of a handle. Again in the morning when the guard comes and politely asks the passengers whether they would have strong or weak tea, it is Skimbleshanks who stands behind the guard to remind him, that he is there to see whether everything is right because Skimbleshanks is shown in the poem as a character who does not let anything go wrong.

When the passengers go to sleep on their cozy berths, they do it without any worries because they know that Skimbleshanks is there. So they do not have to worry about mice also because everything is left to the railway cat-Skimbleshanks. In the 4th stanza the poet says that Skimbleshanks is always fresh and bright and is also very particular in his vigilance at night as every now and then he has a cup of tea mixed with a drop of scotch whisky.

He also catches fleas when passengers are fast asleep at Crewe. He is seen to be walking up and down the stations like Crewe, Carlisle, Dumfries when all the passengers seem to be asleep. He walks out at Carlisle to greet the stationmaster. Then again at Dumfries we find him talking to the police whether he ought to know about anything.

At the Gallowgate, when the passengers reach their destination, it is again Skimbleshanks who help them to get out. Waving his long brown tail he bids the passengers goodbye and says “I’ll see you again” and he says that without fail, the passengers will meet Skimbleshanks. From the very beginning of the poem till the end of it, we find Skimbleshanks in all the activities or works related to the managing and supervising of the railway station and the Night Mail train.

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Linewise Explanation

1. There’s a whisper down the line at 11:39
When the Night Mails ready to depart,
Saying “Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble?

The poet being one of the passengers of the Night Mail train says that at 11:39 a whisper can be heard down the railway line from where the Night Mail train is soon to depart. But Skimbleshanks who is in charge of the train has not arrived, so the people present in the station are searching for Skimbleshanks and are talking or whispering about him, who has most probably gone to hunt the thimble or some important work.

2. We must find him or the train can’t start”
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster’s daughters
They are searching high and low,
Saying “Skimble where is Skimble for unless he’s very nimble
The the Night mail just can’t go”

So the people in the station are discussing that the train can’t start unless Skimbleshanks who is responsible for the train to start, has to be found out. Therefore the guards, the porters, the statio ’master’s daughters all are searching for him everywhere in the station saying that unless Skimbleshanks is active and shows his agility, the Night Mail just can’t move.

3. At 11.42 then the signal’s nearly due
And the passengers are frantic to a man
Then Skimble will appear and he’ll saunter to the rear:
He’s been busy in the luggage van!

Then when it is 11:42, the train is about to depart and all the passengers of the train are panic-stricken for their departure which is depending on Skimbleshanks. Then Skimble appears and he ambles to the rear or the back part of the train. He has been busy in the luggage van all these time.

4. He gives one flash of his glass-green eyes
And the signal goes “All Clear!”
And we’re off at last for the northern part
Of the Northern Hemisphere.

We find Skimbleshanks coming and giving the green signal of “All Clear” and then the train starts off at last for the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere.

5. “You may say that by and large it is Skimble who’s
in charge of the Sleeping Car Express.
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards
He will supervise them all, more or less.

The poet directly says that by and large or on the whole it can be said that it is Skimbleshanks the cat who is in charge of the Sleeping Car Express. It is he who supervises the driver, the guard, the bagmen playing cards. Or in other words these people attached with the work of the railway station or train, are also supervised or managed by Skimbleshanks.

6. Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces
Of the travellors in the First and the Third;
He establishes control by a regular patrol 
And he’d know at once if anything occurred.

Skimbleshanks is seen walking down the corridor of the compartments and examining the faces of the first and third class travellers. He does not discriminate between the passengers of the two classes. He establishes full control like a patrolling officer and he knows at knows at once if anything has occurred.

7. He will watch you without winking and he sees what you are thinking
And it’s certain that he dosen’t approve
Of hilarity and riot so the folk are very quiet
When Skimble is about and on the move.
You can play no pranks with Skimbleshanks!

He’s a Cat that cannot be ignored;
So nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail
When Skimbleshanks is abroad”

Skimbleshanks keep a watch on everyone and he can also say what a passenger is thinking or what is going in his mind. And he also never approves of any riot or exuberance of any sort. So the passengers remain quiet and calm because when Skimbleshanks is there, nothing can go wrong on the Northern Mail. No one can play pranks on Skimbleshanks. So no one can ignore Skimbleshanks- The Railway Cat.

8. Oh it’s very pleasant when you have found your little den
With your name written up on the door.
And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet
And there’s not a speck of dust on the floor.

In these lines, the poet says that when a passenger finds his name written up on the door and he finds his neat berth in the train with new folded blanket sheet, he feels pleased. Even the floor of the compartment is neat and clean with not even a speck of dust.

9. There is every sort of light-you can make it dark or bright;
There’s a handle that you turn to make a breeze.
There’s a funny little basin you’re supposed to wash your face in
And a crank to shut the window if you sneeze.

In the compartments of the train, a passenger can find every sort of light which can be made dim or bright. If one feels hot, one can turn a handle to make the fan start. A basin is also there for washing face. If a passenger sneezes one can avoid that by shutting the window with the help of a handle.

10. Then the tuard looks in politely and will ask you very brightly
“Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?”
But Skimble’s just behind him and was ready to remind him,
For Skimble won’t let anything go wrong.

In the morning again Skimbleshanks is found to be standing behind the guard. The guard asks the passengers politely whether they would have weak or strong tea. Skimbleshanks stands behind him to remind him that he is there and nothing can go wrong.

When the passengers are ready to sleep in the cosy, comfortable berth, pulling up the cover, they feel nice and realize, that there is not a single mouse to bother them as Skimbleshanks has already got rid of them. So everyone can depend on Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat.

11. In the watches of the night he is always fresh and bright:
Every now and then he has a cup of tea
With perhaps a drop of Scotch while he’s keeping on the watch,
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea.

When skimbleshanks is in the dity of vigilance at night, he is always fresh and bright even at that time. The poet gives a reason for his freshness and brightness. It is said that every now and then he was a cup of tea mixed with perhaps a drop of scotch whiskey to fulfill his duty well. He also catches fleas that cause disturbance to the sleep of the passengers.

12. You were fast asleep at Crewe and so you never knew
that he was walking up and down the station:
You were sleeping all the while he was busy at Carlisle,
Where the greets the stationmaster with elation.

When the passengers in the midnight are fast asleep at crew station and are even unknown of thes, we can see skimbleshanks walking up and down the station. Again in the station Carlisle, he is seen greeting the stationmaster with exhilaration.

13. But you saw him at Dumfries, where he speaks to the police
If there’s anything they ought to know about:
When you great to Gallowgate there you do not have to wait-
For Skimbleshanks will help you to get out!
He gives you a wave of his long brown tail
Which says: ‘Til see you again!
You’ll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail
The Cat on the Railway Train.”

When the train reaches the station of Dumfries, Skimbleshanks is seen talking to the police if there is anything he should know. When ultimately the train reaches Gallowgate station that is the destination, Skimbleshanks is there to help them out. The passengers need not to wait but Skimbleshanks is ready to bid them goodbye by waving his long brown tail and saying “I’ll see you again”

The passengers come to know that if they travel on the Midnight Mail again then without fail they would meet Skimbleshanks. The Cat of the Railway Train again. From the starting of the poem till the end of it, we find that Skimbleshanks is the main character who is playing the major role in the Railway Department (Night Mail Train).

• STHOTHRALU – స్తోత్రాలు
• ASHTOTTARA – అష్టోత్తర
• ASHTAKAMULU – అష్టకములు
• MANTRALU – మంత్రాలు
• BHAKTI GEETHALU – భక్తి గీతాలు
• BHAKTI YOGAM – భక్తి యోగం
• DANDAKALU – దండకాలు
• CHALISALU – చాలీసాలు

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat Annotations and Vocabulary

Thimble — a small metal or plastic cap with a closed end to protect the finger and push the needle in swing. OR Here refers to a party game in which one person hides a thimble or other small object somewhere in the room while all the players wait outside.
Nimble — agile ; sprightly Frantic-panic-stricken
Saunter — amble or stroll; walk in a slow relaxed manner.
Bagmen — persons in charge of the mailbags’
Supervise — manage; administer
Crank — a handle
Hilarity — extreme amusement, especially when expressed by laughter.
Speck — a tiny spot or pinprick.
Counterpane — a bedspread; blanket.
Crewe — an English town.
Elation — ecstasy; exhilaration; happiness.

Treasure Chest A Collection of ICSE Poems Workbook Answers