Formalistic Approach Ode to the Death of a Favorite Cat (Favourite)

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Formalistic Approach Ode to the Death of a Favorite Cat (Favourite)

In Thomas Gray's poem "Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat," we find many examples of the Formalistic

Approach. In this poem, we find numerous examples of alliteration, rhyme scheme, puns, and creative word

choice. This poem is very joyful and fun to read because the author is very creative in his choice of words and

phrases.

In the first stanza, we figure out where this event is taking place or in other words, we find out the setting. The

cat is standing on a ledge in his owner's house looking down into a fish bowl and gazing at gold fish. In this

stanza, we find patterns of rhyming. Within this stanza this rhyming pattern is A, A, B ,C,C,B. In the first stanza

they would be the first two lines (side and dy'd), the third and sixth line (blow and below), and fourth and fifth

(kind and reclin'd). Line six of this stanza states" Gazed on the lake below" (Gray line 6) represents word

choice. Gray could have just stated that the cat...

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