Question

Read the poem "Queen of the Cats":

Old Polly was a cat of unusual grace,
With wide, yellow eyes and thin stripes on her face.
My wife took her in on a cold, autumn night,
While the north wind played the weather vane foul.
The old iron rooster screeched at the slight.

Old Polly loved her milk, and she loved her cream.
Purring when petted, she'd curl up to dream
By the warmth of the fire. Her quick eyes would glow
With firelight fancies. Was her expression
Of goodwill or ill? I didn't quite know.

It was All Hallows' Eve when the cats came singing,
Walking upright, their high voices ringing
With sorrowful cries—their queen had gone missing.
"What's going on?" shrieked my wife
As Old Polly woke up and began hissing.

"Oh, silly kittens," she spat, as she leapt out the door.
"Here I am, here I am—you need cry no more."
We watched as the cats disappeared in the fog,
And my wife held me close and said,
"Let's get a dog."

What is the theme of the poem "Queen of the Cats"?

Appearances are deceiving.
Cats are friendly, loyal creatures.
Loyalty solidifies friendships.
Patience improves with practice.

Answer 1

a) Appearances are deceiving.

Step-by-step explanation:

It's easy to be fooled by outward looks, like in the poem "Queen of the Cats." An innocent-looking cat by the name of Old Polly looks to be a sweetheart. On closer investigation, though, it becomes apparent that she is a clever and devious feline. As far as I can tell, she's been a good buddy to the other cats she's lived with. The truth is, her ultimate allegiance is to herself. She takes advantage of the other cats that come to her for aid. At the end of the story, she is shown to be a selfish monster who uses people to get what she wants.