Formalist approach to the Ode to the death of a favorite cat (Favorite)The Ode to the death of a favorite cat is a very interesting poem especially when you start to break it down using the formalist approach to literature. At first glance, this poem could be seen as another story about a cat that drowns while trying to eat its prey, the goldfish. Looking closer, we realize that the poem has many more meanings. The form of a poem is also an important element of its effectiveness. This poem has 7 stanzas of 6 lines each. The third and sixth lines of each are shorter and indented. Thomas Gray used an AABCCB rhyme scheme. The first way for an author to write their poem is to use a point of view, either that of the cat, the goldfish, or of a distinct person, the observer. Thomas Gray chose to use the narrator approach. This use is very effective because it gives us the opinions of all the characters involved. It also gives us a view of the entire story and not just one person's point of view. The symbolism of this poem is also largely effective. Gray doesn't just describe things like green eyes. He goes into detail using descriptive adjectives like emerald eyes, jet ears, turtle life, snowy beard and pensive Selima. The use of these words adds to the ornamentation of the poem. The cat is also a symbolic character. She is described as a character quite closely linked to what Freud describes as an identity. This is someone who looks a lot like a two-year-old child. They only see what they want and go for it. In this person there is no feeling of obstacles or having to work to receive the prize, it is not a thought in this person's head. In this poem there are many examples of assonance. Assonance is a technique of repeating the first letters of a sentence to add emphasis. He uses expressions such as emerald eyes, golden glow, and carefree hearts. This is effective because it adds to the use of metaphors and distinction of description. The structure of Thomas Gray's favorite Ode to the Death of a Cat is in the order of events how they occur..