Mr. Mistoffelees

The poem rhymes throughout, with some common rhyme schemes like the abbab in Lines 1 -5:

“You ought to know Mr. Mistoffelees!

“The Original Conjuring Cat—

(There can be no doubt about that).

Please listen to me and don’t scoff. All his

Inventions are off his own bat”

Or rhyming couplets (aa) in Lines 14-15:

“The greatest magicians have something to learn

From Mr. Mistoffelees’ Conjuring Turn.”

The meter of the lines is irregular, and the poem lacks any formal stanzaic structure: It is divided into two rough sections, almost like the form a prose poem might take. The juxtaposition of the perfect rhyming lines with a less traditional prosaic structure gives the poem an interesting, weird energy, and reveals Eliot’s poetic ingenuity.

Alliterations—the repetition of sounds or sound patterns—such as “conjuring cat” (Line 2), “a cat so clever” (Line 21), and “merely misplaced” (Line 34) abound in the poem, giving it an easy musicality. The use of alliteration is also important in children’s verse since alliteration can function as a mnemonic device, making the poem memorable or easy to learn for recitation. Repetition adds to this quality, with the

Unlock all 16 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,550+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App

+ Printable PDF

+ Literary AI Tools

Unlock Full Library