Poetry response #3 Ode

Poetry analysis: Ode On The Death Of A Favourite Cat Drowned In A Tub Of Goldfishes
Thomas Gray

The poem “Ode on the death of a favourite cat drowned in a tub of goldfishes by Thomas Gray teaches the readers that it is wise to not jump into things just because of the appearances but to think it over before you make hasty mistake. The form of the poem is 7 sestets with a rhyming scheme of AABCCB. The first few stanzas of the poem glamorize the cat, and especially the goldfish with diction and allusion such as emerald, fair, conscious, angles, genii, richest, Nereid, golden, and Nymph. This helps to emphasize the true meaning of appearance and how just by following it can lead to disastrous situation as the cat later faces. There are a lot of personifications and metaphors. The Cat and the gold fish are being referred to as Nymph, prize, and a favourite. This conveys the readers to view the cat as something vital such as your life, and the goldfish as something desirable. However, the lesson here is that nothing is more valuable than your own life. By letting the cat fall into the vase and drown, humorously illustrate the theory above that it is foolish to desire something when it risks your life. The last line “Nor all, that glisters, gold” approves this.