Treasure Chest Workbook Answers Poem 2 Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat Poem Comprehension Questions Answers
Question 1.
Read the following verse paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
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
Then the Night Mail just can’t go.”
i. Who is Skimbleshanks? What do you know about him?
ii. Why people are waiting for Skimbleshanks?
iii. Why the train cannot start without Skimbleshanks?
iv. Where is Skimbleshanks ultimately found?
v. What does “hunt the thimble” suggest in the poem?
Answer:
i. Skimbleshanks is a diligent railway cat who ensures that everything goes well with the passengers of the Night Mail. In fact, he is very particular about the hospitality of the passengers and thus, always at pain to make them feel that they are well taken care of. Skimbleshanks however is very cold.
Passengers are afraid of him. While he is on the move, people hardly dare to fool around. A well organized journey is however ensured by Skimbleshanks at the cost of passenger’s freedom.
ii. Since Skimbleshanks is responsible for the supervision of the Night Mail, the train cannot leave without him. People are thus eagerly waiting for Skimbleshanks, failing to find him anywhere.
iii. Since Skimbleshanks is responsible for the supervision of the Night Mail, the train cannot leave without him. The Night Mail however is ready to start off. It is almost 11:39 P.M. Yet the train cannot leave the platform since Skimbleshanks is found nowhere.
iv. After a hectic search for Skimbleshanks, the railway cat finally leaps us from behind the luggage van and relives the tension of all. Skimbleshanks was “busy in the luggage van”. Hence, he was late.
v. Hunt the thimble is famous party game in which one person hides a thimble, or other small object, somewhere in the room, while all other players wait outside. Failing to find Skimbleshanks, people thought that he must have been engaged playing such game with his mates.
Question 2.
Read the following verse paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
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!
You may say that by and large
it is Skimble who’s in charge
Of the Sleeping Car Express.
i. Where is Skimbleshanks? How does he signals the Night Mail to start off its journey?
ii. Where is the Night Mail heading towards?
iii. Who is in Charge of the Night Mail? Whom does he supervise?
iv. Do you think that Skimbleshanks is fit for his job? Give reason for your answer.
Answer:
i. Skimbleshanks is finally into the Night Mail which leaves after an intolerable delay. With a flash of his green eyes, Skimbleshanks gives the signal to the Night Mail to start off its journey.
ii. The speaker who is a passenger himself says that they are heading towards the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere. This vague destination suggests no specific destination.
iii. Skimbleshanks is in charge of the Night Mail. Skimbleshanks is in charge of supervising all including the driver, the guards as well as the bagmen who are playing cards.
iv. Skimbleshanks is highly suitable for his job of a supervisor. He is energetic, serious, and works with full dedication. Always he is at pain to ensures a pleasant journey with faultless hospitality to the passengers. He looks at everything and maintains discipline. Even at night, he remains awake to ensure safety to the passengers. Skimbleshanks is thus, aptly suitable for his job of a supervisor.
Question 3.
Read the following verste paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
Down the corridor he paces
and examine all the faces
Of the travellers 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 doesn’t approve
Of hilarity and riot, so the folk are very quiet
When Skimble is about and on the move.
i. What does Skimbleshanks do while he paces through the corridor?
ii. How does Skimbleshanks establish control over the passengers?
iii. What are the things that Skimbleshanks disallows the passenger to do?
iv. Why one cannot play prank with Skimbleshanks?
v. Why Skimbleshanks’ presence -cannot be ignored?
vi. How does Eliot present Skimbleshanks in the poem?
Answer:
i. While he paces through the corridor, Skimbleshanks keeps an eye on everything around to ensure that nothing goes wrong. For example, he would scrutinize the face of every passenger, try reading people’s thought and ensure that they maintain peace and silence when Skimbleshanks is on the move. Skimbleshanks however is frequently on move right from first to third class compartment and exercise his control over all.
ii. Skimbleshanks deliberately exercises control over all the passengers. While on move, he continues staring at the face of the passengers, try reading their thoughts and ensure that they maintain silence all throughout their journey. Particularly when Skimbleshanks is on move, passengers feel scared to fool around or create nuisances as they are afraid of the cat. In a way, Skimbleshanks exercises strict control over the passengers and completely destroys their freedom.
iii. In order to maintain discipline, Skimbleshanks exercises strict control over the passengers. Skimbleshanks however does not approve of any kind of amusement. Passengers are strictly disallowed to create nuisances. Moreover, when Skimbleshanks is “on the move”, none can play pranks with him or ignore him. In a way, Skimbleshanks deliberately oppresses the passengers so that “nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail”.
iv. Skimbleshanks’ magnetic personality simply scares the passengers. They thus, feel afraid to play prank with him which might offend the serious cat.
v. Skimbleshanks is possessed with magnetic personality. He is serious, cold and commanding. Hence, his presence cannot be ignored. Passengers are always alert whenever Skimbleshanks is “on the move”.
vi. Considering the socio political situations in Europe at the time when Eliot wrote this poem, one might view Skimbleshanks in the light of a dictator. Skimbleshanks activities inside the compartment suggest his love to oppress freedom. Like a dictator, he controls everything by “a regular patrol”.
People are scared of him as Skimbleshanks “doesn’t approve / Of hilarity and riot”. Their thoughts are continuously monitored and they hardly have courage to play prank with the Skimbleshanks whenever he is on move. All these suggest the oppressive nature of Skimbleshanks which Eliot explores with enough hilarity.
Question 4.
Read the following verse paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
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.
i. What is “little den” referred to in the given excerpt? Why does one feel pleasant finding one’s den?
ii. In what sense the railway berth is considered neat and clean?
iii. Describe in brief the facilities available in the “little den”.
iv. In what way are the windows helpful to the passengers?
v. What task is assigned to the guard by Skimbleshanks?
Answer:
i. The little den referred to in the given excerpt is the railway compartment coach meant for the passengers to board in. Passengers however feel nice to see their names written on the door of compartments coach so that they can easily find their berth.
ii. Skimbleshanks ensrues a neat and clean berth for the passengers. For example, there is no speck of dust on the floor of the compartment. Even passengers are sanctioned new bed sheet, folded on the berth. A spick and span compartment thus, delights the passengers.
iii. A cosy compartment is offered to the passengers of the night mail so that they enjoy a pleasant journey. The cabins are clean with no speck of dust on the floor. There are new bed sheets, folded on the berth and adjustable light overhead. The window facilitates air inside with handle, easy to operate. Even one can shut the windows if one sneezes and feels cold. Moreover, a little basin is provided to wash face.
iv. The window helps for a smooth air flow inside the compartment. The well fitted handle also facilitate passengers to shut the window in case they feel cold and sneeze continuously.
v. While the guard is on move, Skimbleshanks remind him to ask the passengers whether the morning tea was served hot. The guard obeys the command diligently.
Question 5.
Read the following verse paragraph and answer the questions that follow?
“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.
And when you creep into your cosy berth
And pull up the counterpane,
You ought to reflect that it’s very nice
To know that you won’t be bothered by mice —
You can leave all that to the Railway Cat,
The Cat of the Railway Train!
i. Who enquires about the morning tea? Why does the person enquire about the morning tea?
ii. Why does one feel nice when he creep into his berth?
iii. Why one will not be bothered by mice?
iv. What assurance is felt by the passengers when Skimbleshanks is there?
Answer:
i. On Skimbleshanks’ order, the railway guard asks every passenger of the Night Mail whether the morning tea was served hot. The guard however diligently follows the command of the railway cat.
ii. One feels nice when one creep into his berth due all because of the incredible hospitality ensured by Skimbleshanks. Passengers feel very comfortable when they pull up the quilt cover and get inside for a cosy sleep. Such type of comfort makes a journey worth memorable.
iii. Skimbleshanks the railway cat is always at pain to ensure a comfortable journey to the passengers. Hence, when he is there in charge of hospitality passengers are assured that there will be no trouble of mice in the compartment. One can enjoy a comfortable sleep all throughout the night.
iv. When Skimbleshanks is there to take care of the passengers, there is no worry for the passengers. They can safely rely upon the railway cat all because of his incredible efficiency. In other words, passengers feel secured when Skimbleshanks is responsible for their well being.
Question 6.
Read the following verse paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
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.
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 he greets the stationmaster with elation.
i. How does Skimbleshanks keep himself fresh and bright at night?
ii. Why does he stop here and there inside the compartment?
iii. What does Skimbleshanks do in Carlisle and Dumfries?
iv. Where ultimately do the passengers get down? Why there is no need to wait for the passengers to get down?
v. How does Skimbleshanks adieu the passengers?
Answer:
i. Skimbleshanks does not sleep at night. He keeps himself fresh and bright at night by taking cups of tea or a drop of Scotch. Such beverages simply help him to stay awake at night and remain fresh.
ii. Skimbleshanks is seen stopping here and there inside the compartment all throughout the night. This is because of catching flees and help the passengers to enjoy uninterrupted sleep.
iii. Skimbleshanks remains awake all throughout the night. When all the passengers are fast asleep, Skimbleshanks is found greeting the Stationmaster with joy at Carlisle. Moreover, he is found speaking to police at Dumfries.
iv. Passengers ultimately get down at Gallowgate, a neighbourhood of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Skimbleshanks’ hospitality is so perfect that passengers do not have to wait to get down at the station. The railway cat however would help them to get down on the platform.
v. Skimbleshanks ensures that he adieus all the passengers while they get down at Gallowgate. He used to continue weaving his long assuring that he will meet the passengers again on the Midnight Mail.
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat Poem Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Question 1.
Who is Skimbleshanks?
a. dog
b. cat
c. horse
d. detective
Answer:
b. cat
Question 2.
The Night Mail is ready to depart at …………..
a. 11.39 PM
b. 10 AM
c. 12AM
d. 8 PM
Answer:
a. 11.39 PM
Question 3.
Skimbleshanks is finally found …………….
a. in the garden
b. behind the luggage van
c. inside the compartment of Night Mail
d. at station master’s room
Answer:
b. behind the luggage van
Question 4.
How does Skimbleshanks give signal to the night mail?
a. weaving his tail
b. mewing
c. With a flash of his green eyes
d. by getting into the train
Answer:
c. With a flash of his green eyes
Question 5.
What is the duty of Skimbleshanks in the Night Mail?
a. cook
b. supervisor
c. sweeper
d. laundryman
Answer:
b. supervisor
Question 6.
What does Skimbleshanks do while he is on move?
a. talk to the passengers
b. scrutinizing the face of every passenger
c. ignore the passengers
d. misbehaving with the passengers
Answer:
b. scrutinizing the face of every passenger
Question 7.
What cannot be done with Skimbleshanks?
a. talking to him
b. asking him questions
c. relying upon him
d. playing pranks with him
Answer:
d. playing pranks with him
Question 8.
Eliot presents Skimbleshanks in the light of a …………….
a. philanthropist
b. misanthropist
c. dictator
d. misogynist
Answer:
c. dictator
Question 9.
Where does a passenger find his/her name?
a. on the berth
b. in the platform chart
c. on the door of compartments
d. near the basin
Answer:
c. on the door of compartments
Question 10.
How does Skimbleshanks keep himself awake at night?
a. by talking to the passengers
b. watching movies
c. drinking cups of tea or scotch
d. reading books
Answer:
c. drinking cups of tea or scotch
Question 11.
What does Skimbleshanks order the guard to do?
a. to moniter the activities of the passengers
b. to play prank with them
c. to encourge them to read newspaper
d. to ask the passengers whether the morning tea was served hot.
Answer:
(a) and (b)
Question 12.
How does Skimbleshanks adieus the passengers?
a. bidding goodbye
b. smiling
c. offering them chocolate
d. weaving his long brown tail
Answer:
d. weaving his long brown tail
Question 13.
What is the final destination of the Night Mail?
a. Gallowgate
b. Dumfries
c. Crewe
d. Carlisle
Answer:
a. Gallowgate
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat Poem Annotations with Comments
There’s a whisper….luggage vin!:
Whisper: murmur
Line: railway platform
Thimble: a small metal or plastic cap with a closed end.
Hunt….thimble: hunt the thimble is a party game in which one person, ides a thimble, or other small object, somewhere in the room, while all other players wait outside.
train can’t start: train can’t start since Skimbleshanks is in charge of the train.
porter: a person employed to carry luggage and other loads, especially in a railway station
high and low: Everywhere
nimble: quick
frantic: worried, anxious
saunter: walk
Skimble will appear: Skimble shanks will appear from behind the luggage van
rear: endmost
He gives one flash ……………… more or less:
FIash: to send forth light with a sudden, transient brilliancy northern part …………………
Hemisphere: refers to Scotland
by and large: on the whole
who’s in charge: Skimbleshanks is entrusted with the job of supervising the passengers in the train.
more or less: roughly
Down the corridor ……………… Skimbleshanks is aboard:
pace: walk up and down
First and the Third: first and third class compartment
patrol: monitoring
winking: blinking
hilarity: fun
riot: disturbance
Pranks: jokes
Comment:
he doesn’t approve ………….. on the move : These lines establish the Eliot’s aim to present Skimbleshanks in the light of a dictator. Though law and order is maintained by Skimbleshanks’ strict control over everything, but the freedom of the passengers is completely destroyed.
Skimbleshanks “doesn’t approve / Of hilarity and riot” which are so common among the passengers. Moreover, when Skimbleshanks is “on the move”, nonè can play pranks with him. In a way, Skimbleshanks cannot be ignored. Like a dictator, he also craves for attention.
Oh, it’s very pleasant ………. Cat of the Railway Train!:
Den: small cabin
Berth: seat
Sheet: bed cover
Speck: dot
dark or bright: one can regulate the light over the berth according to the need
crank: handle
Brightly: energetically
Creep: move slowly and carefully
Counterpane: quilt or cover
Reflect: acknowledge
Comment:
Skimbleshanks ensures a pleasant journey with faultless hospitality to the passengers. The clean compartment, with spotless bed sheet on each berth, the little basin to wash face, the light overhead all establish a perfect picture of a train compartment always under Skimbleshanks’ strict surveillance. But, the comfort ensured to the passengers is at the cost of their freedom.
They are only allowed to enjoy the journey quietly as the serious cat “doesn’t approve / Of hilarity and riot” when he is on the move. Skimbleshanks activities inside the compartment suggests his love to oppressing freedom. For example, he “will watch you without winking” and “he sees what you are thinking”. Hence, “nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail / When Skimbleshanks is aboard.”
In the watches ………… Railway Train:
Flea: blood sucking insect
Crewe: a town in NW England
Carlisle: Carlisle is a cathedral city and civil parish in Cumbria, England
Elation: joy
Dumfries: Dumfries is the largest burgh in southwestern Scotland.
Gallowgate: a neighbourhood of the city of Glasgow, Scotland.
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat Poem Paraphrase
There’s a whisper….luggage van!:
Skimbleshanks the railway cat is found nowhere when the Night Mail is ready to start off. Its’ almost 11:39 P.M, people are waiting for the cat, calling his name aloud. Where must have Skimble been?wonders the railway staffs like guards, porters and even the stationmaster’s daughters. They continue searching everywhere as the signal is due and the passengers have grown impatient. Finally, Skimbleshanks leaps up from behind the luggage van and relives the tension of all.
He gives one flash …………… more or less:
With a flash of his green eyes, Skimbleshanks gives the signal. The train finally moved out of the station, and heads towards Scotland. Skimbleshanks is in charge of the train. He will supervise all including the driver, the guards as well as the bagmen who are playing cards.
Down the corridor ………… Skimbleshanks is aboard:
Skimbleshanks begins his work scrutinizing the face of every passenger. He would ensure a frequent patrol from first to third class compartment and exercise his control over all. For example, he would continue staring at the face of the passengers without even blinking his eyes.
He would try reading people’s thought and ensure that they maintain silence when Skimbleshanks is on the move. Passengers hardly dare to fool around in his presence which cannot be ignored. Hence, nothing goes wrong in the Northern Mail when Skimbleshanks is aboard.
Oh, it’s very pleasant ……………… Cat of the Railway Train!:
It looks nice to see everything in order names of passengers written on the door of compartments, clean cabin floor with new bed sheet, folded on the berth and adjustable light overhead. The window facilitates air inside with handle, easy to operate. Even one can shut the windows if one sneezes and feels cold. The guard shows up with a polite gesture with Skimbleshanks behind.
He enquires whether the morning tea was served hot when Skimbleshanks is about to remind him about it. Skimbleshanks will not allow any trouble to the passengers who feel relaxed knowing that there are no mice around to spoil their sleep. Skimbleshanks can safely be relied upon for his unbelievable efficiency.
In the watches Railway Train:
Skimbleshanks doesn’t sleep at night. Cups of tea or a drop of Scotch keeps him awake all the night. He is often found catching fleas, while passengers are fast asleep. When the Night Mail reaches Crewe, he is found walking up and down the station.
At Carlisle he is found greeting the Stationmaster and speaking with police at Dumfries. Finally when the train reaches Gallowgate, Skimbleshanks would help the passengers to get down on the platform. Even he adieus all weaving his long brown tail which seems to assure that he will meet again on the Midnight Mail.
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat Poem Summary by T.S. Eliot
Skimbleshanks the railway cat is found nowhere when the Night Mail is ready to start off. Its almost 11:39 P.M, people are waiting for the Skimbleshanks. Where must have Skimble been? wonders the railway staffs like guards, porters and even the stationmaster’s daughters. They continue searching everywhere as the signal is due and the passengers have grown impatient.
Finally, Skimbleshanks leaps up from behind the luggage van and relives the tension of all. With a flash of his green eyes, Skimbleshanks gives the signal. The train finally moves out of the station, and heads towards Scotland. Skimbleshanks is in charge of the train.
He will supervise all including the driver, the guards as well as the bagmen who are playing cards. At first, he observes the face of every passenger while in his patrol from first to third class compartment. Silence is ensured when he is on the move. Passengers hardly dare to fool around in his presence. Hence, nothing goes wrong in the Northern Mail when Skimbleshanks is aboard.
However, it looks nice to see everything in order names of passengers written on the door of compartments, clean cabin floor with new bed sheet, folded on the berth and adjustable light overhead. Skimbleshanks ensures every comfort of the passengers in the Night Mail which also includes smooth passage of air inside through the window, easy to operate with its well fitted handle.
In case one feels cold and sneezes, one can shut the windows easily. Skimbleshanks also sees that the guard asks all the passengers whether the morning tea was served hot. In fact, the diligent cat will not allow any trouble to the passengers who feel relaxed knowing that there are no mice around to spoil their sleep.
At night Skimbleshanks remains awake. Cups of tea or a drop of Scotch keeps him awake all the night. When the Night Mail reaches Crewe, he is found walking up and down the station. At Carlisle he is found greeting the Stationmaster and speaking with police at Dumfries. Finally when the train reaches Gallowgate, Skimbleshanks would help the passengers to get down on the platform. Even he adieus all, weaving his long brown tail which seems to assure that he will meet again on the Midnight Mail.
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat Poem Introduction
Written in 1939, Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat is a part of Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. The poem though appears simple at a glance with the presentation of a diligent cat, but there are more than the surface meaning to it.
Skimbleshanks however represents a dictator who keeps an eye around him and controls everything. In this sense the passengers of the train are under surveillance of an efficient dictator as Skimbleshanks “will watch everywhere in the train” and see “what you are thinking.”