Poetry Elements Come to Life Anonymous 12th Grade

In Thomas Gray’s poem, “Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes,” he shares a story about a cat named Selima while also teaching a lesson to readers. Even though the poem is amusing, it is written and arranged cleverly. Gray integrates humor, imagery, and advice into a story to form a poem that will never be forgotten. Both the poem itself, and the message conveyed in it are relatable. Thomas Gray’s style and use of imagery, diction, and structure in his attractive poem help to warn his readers of seeking opulence and superiority.

The style and message of Thomas Gray’s poem allow me to easily connect to it. First, he portrays an amusing scene of a cat with great detail that is fun to read. There is an iambic rhythm throughout the poem as well as a rhyme pattern. At first glance his writing may seem too immature or playful, but beneath the surface Thomas Gray is skillfully arranging words and structure. I connect with his style because I am very goofy myself and like fun poetry with a deeper meaning. As for giving advice to readers, I will always remember this poem and Thomas Gray’s warning. He absorbs the readers and grabs their attention when describing the story of the cat, much like a children’s...