“The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

“The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine first appeared in 1668 as part of his collection Fables Choisies Mises en Vers. This poem explores themes of cunning, wisdom, and the perpetual struggle between predator and prey, epitomized in the rivalry of the titular characters. The cat, a metaphor for ruthless strategists, embodies ingenuity and relentless pursuit, while the old rat symbolizes skepticism and survival through caution. Its enduring popularity as a textbook poem lies in its moral lesson, conveyed through vivid imagery and relatable characters. Phrases like “Should you a sack of meal become, / I’d let you be, and stay at home,” underscore the value of prudence over recklessness. The poem’s success is further rooted in its accessible narrative style and universal application to human behavior, making it an educational favorite for centuries.

Text: “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

A story-writer of our sort
Historifies, in short,
Of one that may be reckon’d
A Rodilard the Second, – ^[2]
The Alexander of the cats,
The Attila,^[3] the scourge of rats,
Whose fierce and whisker’d head
Among the latter spread,
A league around, its dread;
Who seem’d, indeed, determined
The world should be unvermined.
The planks with props more false than slim,
The tempting heaps of poison’d meal,
The traps of wire and traps of steel,
Were only play compared with him.
At length, so sadly were they scared.
The rats and mice no longer dared
To show their thievish faces
Outside their hiding-places,
Thus shunning all pursuit; whereat
Our crafty General Cat
Contrived to hang himself, as dead,
Beside the wall with downward head,
Resisting gravitation’s laws
By clinging with his hinder claws
To some small bit of string.
The rats esteem’d the thing
A judgment for some naughty deed,
Some thievish snatch,
Or ugly scratch;
And thought their foe had got his meed
By being hung indeed.
With hope elated all
Of laughing at his funeral,
They thrust their noses out in air;
And now to show their heads they dare;
Now dodging back, now venturing more;
At last upon the larder’s store
They fall to filching, as of yore.
A scanty feast enjoy’d these shallows;
Down dropp’d the hung one from his gallows,
And of the hindmost caught.
‘Some other tricks to me are known,’
Said he, while tearing bone from bone,
‘By long experience taught;
The point is settled, free from doubt,
That from your holes you shall come out.’
His threat as good as prophecy
Was proved by Mr. Mildandsly;
For, putting on a mealy robe,
He squatted in an open tub,
And held his purring and his breath; –
Out came the vermin to their death.
On this occasion, one old stager,
A rat as grey as any badger,
Who had in battle lost his tail,
Abstained from smelling at the meal;
And cried, far off, ‘Ah! General Cat,
I much suspect a heap like that;
Your meal is not the thing, perhaps,
For one who knows somewhat of traps;
Should you a sack of meal become,
I’d let you be, and stay at home.’

Well said, I think, and prudently,
By one who knew distrust to be
The parent of security.

Annotations: “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

Line/Segment	Annotation
“A story-writer of our sort / Historifies, in short,”	Sets the tone of the poem as a fable with a moral message, blending storytelling with allegorical meaning.
“Of one that may be reckon’d / A Rodilard the Second,”	References “Rodilard,” a famous character symbolizing cleverness and cunning in French folklore, likening the cat to a master strategist.
“The Alexander of the cats, / The Attila, the scourge of rats,”	Compares the cat to historical conquerors (Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun) to emphasize its dominance and terrifying prowess.
“Whose fierce and whisker’d head / Among the latter spread,”	Highlights the fear the cat instills among the rats, symbolizing unchecked authority or a powerful enemy.
“The world should be unvermined.”	Implies the cat’s mission to eradicate the “vermin” (rats), symbolizing its relentless pursuit of control or justice.
“The planks with props more false than slim,”	Depicts the ineffectiveness of traditional traps compared to the cunning of the cat, reinforcing its superior intellect.
“The rats and mice no longer dared / To show their thievish faces”	Illustrates the overwhelming fear and suppression among the rats, metaphorically addressing fear-driven silence or retreat.
“Our crafty General Cat / Contrived to hang himself, as dead,”	Introduces the cat’s deceptive tactic, feigning death as a strategy to lure the rats into complacency.
“The rats esteem’d the thing / A judgment for some naughty deed,”	The rats interpret the cat’s apparent death as karmic justice, reflecting human tendencies to explain events through moral or ethical reasoning.
“With hope elated all / Of laughing at his funeral,”	The rats’ false sense of security showcases the danger of prematurely celebrating victory without verifying the facts.
“Down dropp’d the hung one from his gallows, / And of the hindmost caught.”	The cat’s trick succeeds, highlighting the consequences of gullibility and lack of caution.
“‘Some other tricks to me are known,’ / Said he, while tearing bone from bone,”	Reinforces the cat’s cunning and experience, with its confidence stemming from past success, symbolizing learned expertise.
“The point is settled, free from doubt, / That from your holes you shall come out.”	The cat proclaims its dominance and inevitability, symbolizing authority that forces submission or risk.
“For, putting on a mealy robe, / He squatted in an open tub,”	The cat devises another trick, donning a disguise to outwit the rats, representing adaptability and creative problem-solving.
“Out came the vermin to their death.”	The strategy works, reinforcing the theme of intelligence overpowering recklessness or complacency.
“On this occasion, one old stager, / A rat as grey as any badger,”	Introduces the old rat, a seasoned survivor representing wisdom gained through experience.
“Who had in battle lost his tail,”	Implies the old rat’s scars of experience, showcasing survival through prudence and past hardships.
“‘Ah! General Cat, / I much suspect a heap like that;”	The old rat’s skepticism demonstrates the importance of caution and critical thinking in avoiding traps.
“Should you a sack of meal become, / I’d let you be, and stay at home.”	The rat resolves to avoid temptation entirely, symbolizing the wisdom of restraint and suspicion in dangerous situations.
“Well said, I think, and prudently,”	The narrator praises the old rat’s cautious approach, reinforcing the moral that distrust can lead to security and survival.
“By one who knew distrust to be / The parent of security.”	Concludes the fable with the lesson: skepticism and vigilance are necessary for safety and long-term survival.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

Device	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	“Planks with props more false than slim”	Repetition of the “p” sound emphasizes the precariousness of the traps.
Allusion	“The Alexander of the cats, / The Attila, the scourge of rats”	References historical figures to highlight the cat’s dominance and cruelty.
Anthropomorphism	“The rats esteem’d the thing / A judgment for some naughty deed”	The rats are given human-like qualities, such as reasoning and moral judgment.
Assonance	“Among the latter spread, / A league around, its dread”	Repetition of the “e” sound creates a rhythmic and flowing quality.
Chiasmus	“Down dropp’d the hung one from his gallows”	The structure of the phrase mirrors itself for emphasis and balance.
Consonance	“Clinging with his hinder claws / To some small bit of string”	Repetition of the “l” and “n” sounds unifies the description of the cat’s action.
Enjambment	“At length, so sadly were they scared. / The rats and mice no longer dared”	A sentence flows over multiple lines, creating suspense and fluidity in the narrative.
Epithet	“Our crafty General Cat”	The adjective “crafty” serves as a descriptor emphasizing the cat’s cunning nature.
Foreshadowing	“The planks with props more false than slim”	Suggests early on that danger and deception will play a key role in the story.
Hyperbole	“The world should be unvermined”	Exaggeration of the cat’s mission to rid the world of vermin highlights its ambition.
Imagery	“Beside the wall with downward head, / Resisting gravitation’s laws”	Vivid visual description of the cat’s trick creates a strong mental picture.
Irony	“With hope elated all / Of laughing at his funeral”	The rats’ hope and joy are ironic as it leads directly to their downfall.
Metaphor	“The Alexander of the cats”	The cat is metaphorically compared to Alexander the Great, emphasizing its supremacy.
Moral	“Distrust to be / The parent of security”	Explicit statement of the fable’s lesson about caution and prudence.
Onomatopoeia	“Purring and his breath”	The word “purring” imitates the sound of a cat, adding realism.
Personification	“The rats esteem’d the thing / A judgment for some naughty deed”	Non-human rats are personified with the ability to judge and moralize.
Rhyme Scheme	“Whose fierce and whisker’d head / Among the latter spread”	Regular rhyming creates musicality and a pleasing rhythm.
Satire	“A judgment for some naughty deed, / Some thievish snatch, / Or ugly scratch”	Subtly mocks the moral reasoning of the rats, suggesting their naïveté.
Simile	“A rat as grey as any badger”	Direct comparison of the old rat to a badger enhances its appearance and age.
Symbolism	“The tempting heaps of poison’d meal”	Represents the dangers of greed and lack of caution.

Themes: “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

1. Cunning and Deception: One of the central themes in “The Cat and the Old Rat” is the role of cunning and deception in achieving dominance or survival. The cat employs various deceptive strategies, including feigning death (“Contrived to hang himself, as dead”) and disguising itself in a “mealy robe” to trick the rats into exposing themselves. These acts of deceit highlight the predator’s ingenuity and adaptability, which are critical for its success. This theme underscores the idea that intelligence and strategy often triumph over brute force, as the cat relies on its wits rather than direct confrontation to outsmart the rats. La Fontaine uses this theme to explore how guile can be a powerful tool, especially when confronting those who underestimate their opponents.

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2. Survival Through Prudence: The old rat represents the theme of survival through prudence, showcasing how caution and critical thinking can protect against danger. Unlike the other rats, the old rat avoids the poisoned meal, proclaiming, “Ah! General Cat, / I much suspect a heap like that.” His wariness stems from past experiences, such as losing his tail in battle, which taught him the value of distrust. The rat’s refusal to be lured by temptation exemplifies how skepticism can be a protective measure in life-threatening situations. La Fontaine emphasizes this theme in the moral conclusion: “By one who knew distrust to be / The parent of security,” reinforcing the importance of vigilance and wisdom in ensuring safety.

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3. The Danger of Complacency: Another key theme in the fable is the danger of complacency and overconfidence, as exemplified by the rats who prematurely celebrate the cat’s supposed death. Believing their enemy has been vanquished, they “thrust their noses out in air” and gleefully begin raiding the larder. This lack of caution leads directly to their demise, as the cat’s trick culminates in their slaughter (“Down dropp’d the hung one from his gallows, / And of the hindmost caught”). La Fontaine uses this theme to warn against the false sense of security that often arises from assuming a problem has been resolved without due diligence.

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4. The Balance of Power: The theme of the balance of power is woven throughout the fable, illustrating the constant struggle between predator and prey. Initially, the cat dominates, driving the rats into hiding (“The rats and mice no longer dared / To show their thievish faces”). However, the old rat’s cautious approach shifts the balance, as his prudence prevents him from falling into the cat’s traps. This dynamic reflects the broader reality of power struggles, where shifts in strategy or perspective can alter outcomes. La Fontaine uses the fable to highlight how power is not absolute but often depends on intelligence, adaptability, and the ability to anticipate the actions of others.

Literary Theories and “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

Literary Theory	Application to “The Cat and the Old Rat”	References from the Poem
Moral Criticism	Focuses on the ethical lesson or moral message conveyed by the text. The fable teaches the importance of prudence and distrust in ensuring survival.	“By one who knew distrust to be / The parent of security” explicitly conveys the moral about the value of caution.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Examines the underlying psychological drives and instincts, such as the cat’s cunning and the rats’ fear-driven behavior, which reflect survival instincts.	The cat’s deceptive tactics (“Contrived to hang himself, as dead”) symbolize its calculated predatory instincts.
Structuralism	Highlights the use of binary oppositions, such as predator vs. prey, cunning vs. trust, and action vs. caution, to structure the narrative and meaning.	The opposition of the cat’s deception and the old rat’s caution is central to the narrative’s structure and resolution.
Reader-Response Theory	Considers the reader’s interpretation of the characters’ actions and the moral. Different readers may empathize with the cat’s strategy or the rat’s prudence.	Readers interpret the old rat’s actions (“Ah! General Cat, / I much suspect a heap like that”) as either wise or overly cautious.

Critical Questions about “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

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Literary Works Similar to “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

1. “The Fox and the Crow” by Jean de La Fontaine
   Both poems use anthropomorphic animals to convey a moral lesson, with themes of cunning and the consequences of gullibility.
2. “The Tortoise and the Hare” by Aesop (in poetic adaptations)
   Similar to La Fontaine’s work, this poem features animals symbolizing human traits and teaches a moral about prudence and persistence.
3. “The Frog and the Ox” by Jean de La Fontaine
   Like “The Cat and the Old Rat”, this poem explores the dangers of arrogance and overestimating one’s abilities, using vivid animal characters.
4. “The Spider and the Fly” by Mary Howitt
   This poem shares themes of deception and the perils of naivety, with the fly falling prey to the spider’s manipulative tactics.
5. “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear
   Although more whimsical, this poem employs anthropomorphism and animal characters to explore interactions that mirror human behaviors and emotions.

Representative Quotations of “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“The Alexander of the cats, / The Attila, the scourge of rats”	Describes the cat’s dominance and reputation among the rats, setting the tone of fear and power imbalance.	Structuralism: Highlights binary oppositions (dominator vs. dominated).
“Contrived to hang himself, as dead, / Beside the wall with downward head”	The cat fakes its death to lure the rats out of hiding.	Psychoanalytic Theory: Reflects cunning as a manifestation of predatory instincts.
“The rats esteem’d the thing / A judgment for some naughty deed”	The rats interpret the cat’s apparent death as karmic justice, letting their guard down.	Moral Criticism: Explores how moral assumptions can lead to errors in judgment.
“With hope elated all / Of laughing at his funeral”	The rats prematurely celebrate their enemy’s death, exposing their overconfidence.	Reader-Response Theory: Invites readers to judge the rats’ foolishness from their perspective.
“Down dropp’d the hung one from his gallows, / And of the hindmost caught”	The cat springs its trap and captures unsuspecting rats, showcasing the success of its deceit.	Structuralism: Reinforces the predator-prey dynamic and reversal of expectations.
“Ah! General Cat, / I much suspect a heap like that”	The old rat expresses skepticism about the poisoned meal, demonstrating wisdom through caution.	Moral Criticism: Highlights prudence as a survival strategy.
“Should you a sack of meal become, / I’d let you be, and stay at home”	The old rat decides to avoid temptation entirely, valuing safety over risk.	Existentialism: Reflects individual agency in choosing self-preservation.
“By one who knew distrust to be / The parent of security”	Concludes the moral of the poem, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and skepticism.	Moral Criticism: Clearly defines the lesson the fable imparts.
“The tempting heaps of poison’d meal”	Symbolizes greed and its potential dangers, luring the rats into a deadly trap.	Symbolism: Represents the consequences of unchecked desire.
“For, putting on a mealy robe, / He squatted in an open tub”	Describes another deceptive tactic of the cat, showcasing adaptability and persistence.	Psychoanalytic Theory: Reveals the cat’s calculated and strategic behaviors as an extension of its nature.

Suggested Readings: “The Cat And The Old Rat” by Jean de La Fontaine

1. La Fontaine, Jean. The complete fables of Jean de la Fontaine. University of Illinois Press, 2007.
2. de La Fontaine, Jean. Once Again, La Fontaine: Sixty More Fables. Wesleyan University Press, 2000.
3. Doré, Gustave. Doré’s Illustrations for the Fables of la Fontaine. Courier Corporation, 2013.
4. McGowan, Margaret M. “Moral Intention in the Fables of La Fontaine.” Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, vol. 29, 1966, pp. 264–81. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/750719. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.