"Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat" is a delightful poem by T.S. Eliot that celebrates the character and antics of a cat named Skimbleshanks, who resides on a railway train. The poem depicts Skimbleshanks as a crucial member of the train's steam, overseeing ..........
Skimbleshanks the railway cat - New Oxford Modern English - Class 8 - English
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Back Exercises - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Literature | English | Class 8
Find the best order to arrange the adjectives.
Example: cat (black, thin)
thin black cat
The think black cat lapped up the milk in the saucer.
a. mountains (distant, blue)
b. road (narrow, mountain, high)
c. watch (new, shiny, steel)
d. face (grey, expressionless, dull)
e. snake (green, venomous, long)
f. car (Rover, sleek, black, new)
g. singer (young, Indian, famous)
h. suit (evening, ready-made, Italian)
i. shirt (new, red, smart)
j. plane (trans-Atlantic, jet-propelled, passenger)
a. blue distant mountains
b. high narrow mountain road
c. new shiny steel watch
d. dull grey expressionless face
e. long venomous green snake
f. new sleek black Rover car
g. famous young Indian singer
h. Italian ready-made evening suit
i. smart new red shirt
j. passenger jet-propelled trans-Atlantic plane
Use the following in sentences of your own.
a. more or less
b. on the move
c. to a man
d. is abroad
e. all clear
f. now and then
g. by and large
h. without fail
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Sign up nowFind adverbial clauses of condition, reason or place to complete the following and state which kind of clause you have used. Use each word in this box at least once. Remember that you may, if you wish, put the main clauses at the end of the sentence.
because | if | unless | where | since | as | wherever |
a. We will go to the cinema without you…
b. The old lady could not stand up …
c. We will get very wet…
d. The children left their books….
e. You should be reading your books…
f. The old man lived by himself…
g. Dina’s small white dog goes….
h. I’ll spend all the money on clothes….
i. Usha does not eat meat….
j. I’m afraid you will have to have black coffee….
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Sign up nowIdentify the adverbial clauses in the following and say what kind they are.
a. The children sat in the library because Mr Sen told them to read more.
b. She will be allowed to go to the party, if you go with her.
c. Since were are going, they can come too.
d. He goes to the zoo whenever he visits the city.
e. He will never ding out what is wrong, unless he visits the doctor.
f. They settled down on the grass where it was dry.
g. He will post your letter as he is going that way.
h. They will be allowed some sweets after they have eaten their dinner.
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Sign up nowIn the poem you have just read, Eliot has given Skimble a complete personality. The cat acts like a human being and is described in every way as being a cat of ‘character’ – all that is missing is a suit of clothes. If you have a pet at home – a dog, a cat, a rabbit, or any other animal imagine how it would behave if it possessed certain human qualities. Skimble ‘saunters’ down the platform as an important person would; he ‘supervises’; he ‘examines all the faces’ and ‘establishes control’; he ‘doesn’t approve’ of certain things.
Write a short account of an animal. Try to consider it as you would a person with a definite character. He or she can be surly, grumpy, important, bossy or possess other characteristics.
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Sign up nowBack Questions - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Literature | English | Class 8
Why can’t the train start without Skimble?
The train cannot start without Skimble because he is in charge of the Sleeping Car Express. Everyone from the driver, to the guards, to the bagmen playing cards relies on him. He establishes control through regular patrols, and he would know immediately if anything went wrong. Skimble is a well-respected figure who holds a level of authority. He is vigilant and able to sense what people are thinking, which discourages any disruption. So, nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail when Skimble is on duty. Skimble is not a cat that can be ignored; his presence reinforces order and peace on the train.
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In what way is Skimble in charge of the train?
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Sign up nowWhy are the passengers very quiet when Skimble is about?
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Sign up nowWhat delights are there for the passengers of the train?
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Sign up nowIn what way are the passengers comforted by Skimble’s presence?
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Sign up nowWhat does Skimble do while the passengers are all safely asleep?
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Sign up nowHow does the poet create the impression of a moving train? (Hint: examine the lines of the poem.)
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Sign up nowSaying ‘Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble … ?’
i) Who is asking the question?
ii) What does ‘hunting the thimble’ refer to?
iii) Why is Skimble being searched for?
iv) What cannot happen till he is found?
v) When does Skimble eventually appear?
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Sign up nowDown the corridor, he paces and examines 01/ the faces
i) Who paces down the corridor?
ii) Whose faces does he examine?
iii) Why does he pace the corridor?
iv) Why does he examine the faces?
v) What effect does this have on the passengers?
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Sign up nowWhich says: ‘I’ll see you again! …’
i) Who or what says this?
ii) Who is going to be seen again?
iii) With what is this message delivered?
iv) What is the complete message?
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Sign up nowExtra Questions - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Literature | English | Class 8
There’s a whisper down the line at 11.39
When the Night Mail’s 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
Then the Night Mail just can’t go.’
What do you think is the significance of the time 11:39 mentioned in the poem?
Why do you think Skimble’s presence is so crucial for the Night Mail’s departure?
What could the phrase ‘hunt the thimble’ possibly mean in reference to Skimble’s duties.
From the line “unless he’s very nimble”, what characteristics of Skimble can be inferred?
In what ways does the poet create suspense and tension in this opening stanza?
There’s a whisper down the line at 11.39
When the Night Mail’s 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
Then the Night Mail just can’t go.’
What do you think is the significance of the time 11:39 mentioned in the poem?
Why do you think Skimble’s presence is so crucial for the Night Mail’s departure?
What could the phrase ‘hunt the thimble’ possibly mean in reference to Skimble’s duties.
From the line “unless he’s very nimble”, what characteristics of Skimble can be inferred?
In what ways does the poet create suspense and tension in this opening stanza?
The significance of the time 11:39 in the poem represents the precise schedule maintained by the railway system. This reflects the routine and exactness of the lives of people associated with it.
Skimble’s presence is crucial for the Night Mail’s departure because he is portrayed as a key character responsible for maintaining the proper order and functioning of the Night Mail.
The phrase ‘hunt the thimble’ could reflect Skimble’s ability to find solutions to minute problems or challenges, indicating his resourcefulness and keen observation.
The line “unless he’s very nimble” implies that Skimble is fast and agile, characteristics necessary for his role in ensuring the smooth running of the Night Mail.
The poet creates suspense and tension by presenting a situation where Skimble’s whereabouts are unknown, and the entire station is anxiously searching for him. This would affect the scheduled departure, hinting at the precariousness of the situation.
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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!
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.
In what ways does Skimbleshanks’s appearance affect the atmosphere inside the train and among the passengers?
Why do you think the poet has Skimbleshanks flash his “glass-green eyes” before the signal goes ‘All Clear!’?
Identify and analyze the role of Skimbleshanks on the Sleeping Car Express. Why is his role essential for the train journey?
By examining the methods used by Skimbleshanks to keep everything in order on the train, infer the characteristics he possesses that make him suitable for this role.
How does the poet use vivid imagery and simile in creating a character like Skimbleshanks?
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Sign up nowSkimbleshanks: The Railway Cat - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Class 8 Literature | English
About the Poet - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Class 8 Literature | English
T.S. Eliot, full name Thomas Stearns Eliot, was an American-born British poet, essayist, and playwright who is widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in literary modernism of the 20th Century. Born in 1888 in St. Louis, Missouri, Eliot moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and became a British subject in 1927.
Eliot's poetry is well-known for its complexity, depth and powerful symbolism. His most famous works include "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock", "The Waste Land", and "Four Quartets". Eliot was also responsible for writing "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", a whimsical collection of feline-themed poems that formed the basis of the popular musical, "Cats".
In his writing, Eliot delved into themes of disillusionment, despair, and profound existential thought. In 1948, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his outstanding contribution to present-day poetry. Eliot passed away in 1965, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate in literature circles.
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Unlock now 🔓Summary - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Class 8 Literature | English
1. Authority and Responsibility:
Skimbleshanks is painted as an authoritative figure who takes his role as the overseer of the train's operations very seriously. His responsibility extends over everyone and everything on the train, from the lowest to the highest rank of the staff and even the passengers. He maintains order, makes sure the train departs on time and.......
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Class 8 Literature | English
Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat uses a variety of symbols to convey its themes and deepen the reader's understanding of the poem.
1. Skimbleshanks: The central character of the poem, Skimbleshanks the cat, is a symbol of responsibility, authority, vigilance, and protectiveness. Skimbleshanks...........
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Class 8 Literature | English
T.S. Eliot employs several poetic devices in "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat". Here are a few:
1. Rhyme: The poem uses a consistent rhyme scheme that gives it a rhythmic flow, creating a lively and engaging read. This can help readers......
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Skimbleshanks the railway cat | New Oxford Modern English | Class 8 Literature | English
Whisper - A soft or confidential utterance.
Susie could hear the faint whisper in her ear as she woke up from her dream.
Depart - To go away; leave.
My parents depart for their vacation tomorrow.
Thimble - A small metal or plastic cap used to protect the finger while sewing.
I always use a ................................
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