Poem 9: Fog – Carl Sandburg
Complete Study Notes (CBSE Class X)
1. Introduction
Fog is a short yet powerful poem by
Carl Sandburg. In this poem, the poet compares the fog to a cat. Through the
use of metaphor and personification, he describes how the fog arrives quietly,
remains for a while, and then disappears silently. The poem beautifully
captures the mysterious and gentle movement of nature in just a few lines.
2. Summary of the Poem
The poet compares the fog to a little
cat. Like a cat, the fog comes quietly and silently without making any noise.
It settles over the harbour and the city, watching everything around it. It
remains there for some time, just as a cat sits patiently observing its
surroundings. Finally, it moves away as silently as it came.
The poem highlights the quiet beauty
and mysterious nature of the fog. Through a simple comparison, Carl Sandburg
makes readers imagine the fog as a living creature moving gracefully through
nature.
3. Stanza-wise Explanation
Stanza 1
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
Explanation
The poet begins by comparing the fog
to a little cat. Just as a cat walks softly without making any sound, the fog
also arrives quietly and gently. Its movement is slow, silent, and almost
unnoticed. This comparison creates a vivid image in the reader's mind.
Word Meanings
Fog – A thick cloud of tiny water
droplets near the ground
Cat feet – A symbol of soft and silent
movement
Stanza 2
It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Explanation
The fog settles over the harbour and
the city as if it were a cat sitting quietly on its haunches, observing
everything around it. After remaining there for some time, it silently moves away
without disturbing anyone. The poet beautifully personifies the fog, making it
appear like a living creature.
Word Meanings
Harbour (Port) – A place where ships
are anchored
Haunches – The hind legs or hips of a
cat or other animal
Moves on – Goes away quietly
4. Important Literary Devices
Metaphor:
The fog is directly compared to a cat.
Personification: The fog is given human and animal qualities
such as sitting, looking, and moving.
Imagery:
The poet creates a clear picture of the fog silently covering the city and
harbour.
Free Verse:
The poem has no fixed rhyme scheme or metre.
5. Theme
The poem highlights:
· The mystery and beauty of nature.
· The silent movement of the fog.
· The close relationship between nature and
animals.
· The poet's keen observation of ordinary
natural phenomena.
6. Objective-Type Questions
Q1. Where does the fog look over?
Answer: The fog looks over the harbour
(port) and the city.
Q2. What is the fog compared to?
Answer: The fog is compared to a
little cat.
Q3. How does the fog come?
Answer: The fog comes slowly, softly,
and silently, like a cat walking on its little feet.
7. Short Answer Questions (30–35 Words Each)
Q1. "The fog comes on little cat's
feet." What three things suggest this? OR
What are the three things that suggest the fog
is like a cat?
Answer: The fog resembles a cat
because it arrives quietly without any noise, moves gently and silently, and
sits patiently over the harbour and the city before disappearing quietly, just
like a cat after observing its surroundings.
Q2. How does the poet describe the movements
of the fog?
Answer: The poet uses metaphor and
personification to describe the fog. It comes silently like a cat, sits quietly
over the harbour and city as if watching them, and then moves away gently
without making any sound.
Q3. According to Carl Sandburg, what is the
fog like? How does it come?
Answer: According to Carl Sandburg,
the fog is like a little cat. It comes softly and silently on "little cat
feet," settles quietly over the harbour and city for some time, and then
departs as silently as it arrived.
Q4. Why does the poet compare the fog to a
cat?
Answer: The poet compares the fog to a
cat because both move quietly, gently, and gracefully. Like a cat, the fog
appears silently, pauses for a while, watches its surroundings, and then
disappears without creating any disturbance.
Q5. What is the central idea of the poem Fog?
Answer: The poem celebrates the quiet
beauty and mystery of nature. It shows how the fog arrives and departs
silently, encouraging readers to appreciate the simple yet fascinating
movements of the natural world.
.png)