Class 10 English First Flight Poem 9 Question Answer

Class 10 English First Flight Poem 9 Question Answer | Fog

Welcome to HSLC Guru. In this article, we provide a complete set of questions and answers for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 9 – Fog by Carl Sandburg. This poem is an important part of the ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education) Class 10 English syllabus. Here you will find the poem text, explanation, summary, central idea, literary devices, textbook solutions (Thinking about the Poem), additional short and long answer questions, MCQs, and extract-based questions to help you prepare thoroughly for your HSLC examination.

About the Poet

Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) was an acclaimed American poet, biographer, journalist, and editor. Born in Galesburg, Illinois, to Swedish immigrant parents, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in American literature. Sandburg won three Pulitzer Prizes during his career – two for his poetry collections Cornhuskers (1919) and Complete Poems (1951), and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln. He was known for his use of free verse and his ability to capture the beauty of everyday life and the American landscape in simple, powerful language. His poems often celebrate the common people, industrial America, and the forces of nature.

Poem Text: Fog

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Word Meanings

Word	Meaning
Fog	A thick cloud of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere near the earth’s surface that reduces visibility
Harbour	A sheltered area of water where ships can dock; a port
Haunches	The hips and upper thighs of an animal; the hindquarters. When an animal sits on its haunches, it sits with its knees bent and its weight resting on its rear legs
Moves on	Leaves; goes away; departs
Silent	Without any sound; noiseless; quiet

Poem Explanation

Stanza 1

“The fog comes / on little cat feet.”

In the opening stanza, the poet describes the arrival of fog. He says that the fog comes silently, just like a cat walking on its soft, padded paws. A cat moves so quietly and stealthily that one hardly notices when it enters a room. Similarly, fog arrives without any warning or noise. It slowly and gently rolls in, covering everything in its path without making a sound. The poet uses the metaphor of “little cat feet” to emphasize the soft, silent, and gradual way in which fog approaches. The word “little” suggests gentleness and the small, delicate movements of the fog as it creeps in.

Stanza 2

“It sits looking / over harbour and city / on silent haunches / and then moves on.”

In the second stanza, the poet describes what the fog does after it arrives. The fog settles down and spreads over the harbour and the city, just as a cat sits on its haunches (hind legs) and looks around quietly. The fog seems to observe everything from above, covering the harbour where ships are docked and the city where people live and work. The phrase “silent haunches” reinforces the idea of quietness – the fog sits without making any noise, much like a cat that sits silently and watches its surroundings with alert, watchful eyes. After staying for a while, the fog “moves on” – it departs just as silently and mysteriously as it came. Like a cat that quietly gets up and walks away, the fog lifts and disappears, leaving behind a clear view once again. This movement captures the transient, temporary nature of fog – it comes, stays briefly, and then vanishes.

Summary of Fog

“Fog” is a short and beautiful poem written by the American poet Carl Sandburg. In just six lines, the poet captures the essence of fog by comparing it to a cat. The poem describes how fog arrives silently, like a cat walking on its soft little feet, without making any sound. Once it arrives, the fog settles over the harbour and the city, sitting quietly on its haunches like a cat that watches everything from a high perch. After staying for some time, the fog quietly moves on and disappears, just as a cat silently gets up and walks away. The poem beautifully captures three stages of fog – its arrival, its stay, and its departure – all through the metaphor of a cat. Through this simple yet powerful poem, Sandburg shows how even ordinary natural phenomena like fog can be observed with poetic imagination and how nature operates with quiet grace and mystery.

Central Idea of the Poem

The central idea of the poem “Fog” is to highlight the quiet, graceful, and mysterious way in which nature works. By comparing the fog to a cat, the poet Carl Sandburg illustrates that natural phenomena do not always have to be dramatic or violent. Sometimes, nature operates in a gentle and subtle manner – arriving without warning, staying silently, and departing without notice. The poem also conveys the idea that everything in nature is temporary and transient. Just as the fog comes and then moves on, nothing lasts forever. The poet encourages readers to observe nature closely and appreciate the beauty that lies in ordinary, everyday occurrences. The poem teaches us that if we look carefully, we can find poetry and wonder even in something as commonplace as fog.

Theme of the Poem

The poem “Fog” explores several interconnected themes:

Mystery and Unpredictability of Nature: Fog, like many natural phenomena, arrives without warning and departs without notice. Its behaviour is unpredictable, much like a cat’s.
Silence and Gentleness: The poem emphasizes the silent and gentle nature of fog. It does not announce its arrival with thunder or storm but comes softly and quietly.
Transience and Impermanence: The fog comes and then moves on. This reflects the temporary nature of all things in life – nothing stays forever. This can also be applied to difficulties and problems, which are also temporary.
Beauty in the Ordinary: The poet finds poetic beauty in something as common and ordinary as fog, encouraging us to observe nature with fresh, imaginative eyes.
Coexistence of Nature and Human Life: The fog settles over both the harbour and the city, suggesting the gentle way in which nature and human civilization coexist.

Literary Devices Used in the Poem

Despite being a very short poem of only six lines, Carl Sandburg has used several literary devices in “Fog”:

1. Metaphor: The entire poem is an extended metaphor. The fog is compared to a cat without using the words “like” or “as.” The poet does not say the fog is “like” a cat; he directly calls it a cat by describing its movements with cat-like characteristics – “little cat feet,” “sits looking,” “on silent haunches.” This is the most dominant literary device in the poem.

2. Personification: The fog is given animal-like and human-like qualities. It “comes,” “sits,” “looks,” and “moves on” – all actions associated with a living being. This makes the fog seem alive and gives it a personality of its own.

3. Imagery: The poem creates vivid visual images in the reader’s mind. We can picture the fog creeping in softly like a cat, sitting on its haunches overlooking the harbour and city, and then quietly moving away. The imagery appeals to our sense of sight.

4. Free Verse: The poem is written in free verse – it does not follow any fixed rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This free-flowing structure mirrors the natural, unconstrained movement of the fog itself. The absence of rhyme gives the poem a natural, conversational quality.

5. Enjambment: The lines of the poem flow into each other without stopping. For example, “The fog comes / on little cat feet” and “It sits looking / over harbour and city” – the sense runs over from one line to the next, creating a continuous flow that mirrors the smooth, continuous movement of fog.

6. Transferred Epithet: In the phrase “silent haunches,” the adjective “silent” actually describes the fog (or the cat), not the haunches themselves. The silence belongs to the fog, but it is transferred to the word “haunches.”

7. Symbolism: Fog can be seen as a symbol of mystery, transience, and the quiet but powerful forces of nature. It may also symbolize problems or difficulties in life that come uninvited, stay for a while, and then pass away.

Thinking about the Poem (NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers)

Q1. (i) What does Sandburg think the fog is like?

Ans: Sandburg thinks the fog is like a cat. He compares the fog to a cat through the use of metaphor. Just as a cat comes silently on its soft padded paws, sits on its haunches and watches everything quietly, and then moves away without making any noise, the fog also arrives silently, stays for a while, and then departs quietly.

(ii) How does the fog come?

Ans: The fog comes silently and gently, like a cat walking on its little soft feet. It arrives without making any sound or giving any warning. The poet uses the phrase “on little cat feet” to describe how the fog creeps in slowly and quietly, just as a cat moves stealthily without anyone noticing.

(iii) What does ‘it’ in the third line refer to?

Ans: The pronoun ‘it’ in the third line refers to the fog. The poet has compared the fog to a cat using an extended metaphor, so ‘it’ simultaneously refers to both the fog and the metaphorical cat. In this line, the fog (like a cat) sits looking over the harbour and city.

(iv) Does the poet actually say that the fog is like a cat? Find three things that tell us that the fog is like a cat.

Ans: No, the poet does not directly say that the fog is “like” a cat. Instead, he uses a metaphor (not a simile) to compare the fog to a cat indirectly. The three things that tell us the fog is like a cat are:

Silent arrival: The fog comes “on little cat feet” – just as a cat arrives silently on its soft, padded paws, the fog also arrives without making any sound.
Sitting and watching: The fog “sits looking over harbour and city” – just as a cat sits quietly and observes its surroundings with watchful eyes, the fog also settles down and seems to look over the harbour and city.
Sitting on haunches: The fog sits “on silent haunches” – just as a cat sits on its hind legs (haunches) in a crouching position, the fog also seems to crouch silently over the landscape before moving away.

Q2. You know that a metaphor compares two things by transferring a feature of one thing to the other.

(i) Find metaphors for the following:

Given Word	Metaphor	Explanation
Storm	Tiger	A storm is fierce, powerful, and aggressive like a tiger. It pounces on the land with destructive force, roaring with thunder and striking with lightning, just as a tiger attacks its prey with ferocious energy.
Train	Snake	A train is like a snake because both have long, elongated bodies that move in a winding, twisting manner along a defined path. A train snakes its way through the countryside, curving around mountains and through tunnels.
Fire	Sun	Fire is like a miniature sun because both are sources of heat and light. Both glow with intense energy, and both can give warmth or cause destruction depending on their intensity.
School	Temple of learning	A school is a temple where knowledge is worshipped. Just as devotees go to a temple to seek blessings, students go to school to seek knowledge and wisdom.

(ii) Think about a storm. Try to write a short poem comparing the storm to an animal.

Ans: Here is a sample poem:

The storm comes
roaring like a wild lion.
It pounces on the land
with its mighty claws of wind,
shakes the trees with its thunderous mane,
and lashes its tail of rain
across the trembling earth.
Then, satisfied, it growls softly
and retreats into the distance.

Q3. Does this poem have a rhyme scheme? Can you say it is in ‘free verse’?

Ans: No, this poem does not have a regular rhyme scheme. The end words of the lines – “comes,” “feet,” “looking,” “city,” “haunches,” and “on” – do not rhyme with each other. There is no consistent pattern of rhyming sounds at the end of the lines. Therefore, we can say that the poem is written in free verse. Free verse is a form of poetry that does not follow any fixed rhyme scheme, metre, or rhythmic pattern. The poem flows freely and naturally, much like the fog it describes. The use of free verse is appropriate here because it mirrors the natural, unconstrained, and flowing movement of the fog itself.

Short Answer Questions (2-3 Marks)

Q1. What is the poem “Fog” about? Who is the poet?

Ans: The poem “Fog” is about the arrival, stay, and departure of fog over a harbour and a city. The poet is Carl Sandburg, a famous American poet. He compares the fog to a cat by describing how it comes silently on little feet, sits on its haunches looking over the harbour and city, and then quietly moves on.

Q2. How does the poet describe the arrival of the fog?

Ans: The poet describes the arrival of the fog by comparing it to a cat. He says the fog comes “on little cat feet,” which means it arrives silently and gently without making any noise. Just as a cat walks softly on its padded paws without being noticed, the fog also creeps in quietly and gradually.

Q3. What does the fog do after it arrives?

Ans: After the fog arrives, it sits looking over the harbour and the city on silent haunches. Like a cat that settles down and watches its surroundings with quiet alertness, the fog also spreads over the landscape and seems to observe everything from above. It stays silently for a while before moving on.

Q4. What happens at the end of the poem?

Ans: At the end of the poem, the fog “moves on.” This means that after sitting silently over the harbour and city for some time, the fog lifts and disappears, just as a cat quietly gets up and walks away. The fog departs as silently and mysteriously as it came, highlighting its temporary and transient nature.

Q5. Why has the poet compared the fog to a cat?

Ans: The poet has compared the fog to a cat because both share several similar qualities. Both arrive silently and without warning. Both move softly and gently without making noise. A cat sits on its haunches and watches everything quietly, just as fog settles over a landscape and seems to observe everything. Both the cat and the fog are also mysterious and independent in their movements – they come and go as they please.

Q6. What are the three stages of fog described in the poem?

Ans: The three stages of fog described in the poem are: (i) Arrival – the fog comes silently on little cat feet; (ii) Stay – the fog sits on silent haunches, looking over the harbour and city; and (iii) Departure – the fog then moves on, disappearing as quietly as it came. These three stages mirror the behaviour of a cat.

Q7. What is the significance of the phrase “little cat feet”?

Ans: The phrase “little cat feet” is significant because it establishes the central metaphor of the poem. The word “little” emphasizes the softness and gentleness of the fog’s approach. “Cat feet” refers to the soft, padded paws of a cat that make no sound when walking. Together, the phrase suggests that the fog arrives silently, softly, and without being noticed – just like a cat tiptoeing into a room.

Q8. What is meant by “silent haunches” in the poem?

Ans: “Silent haunches” refers to the hind legs or hindquarters of the metaphorical cat (the fog). When a cat sits on its haunches, it crouches down with its rear legs bent and its weight resting on its back legs. The word “silent” emphasizes the absolute quietness of the fog as it settles over the city and harbour. The phrase creates a vivid image of the fog sitting still and quiet, observing everything below.

Q9. How is the fog portrayed in the poem – as a resident or an outsider?

Ans: The fog is portrayed as an outsider in the poem. It is described as something that “comes” from somewhere else, stays temporarily over the harbour and city, and then “moves on” to another place. It is not a permanent resident but rather a visitor that arrives unexpectedly, spends a brief period, and then departs without notice. Its behaviour is that of a wanderer or a passerby.

Q10. Is the fog’s role in the poem active or passive? Explain.

Ans: The fog’s role in the poem is largely passive. Although the fog “comes” and “moves on,” its primary activity is sitting and looking. It does not cause any disruption or make any noise. It simply sits on its silent haunches and observes the harbour and city below, like a cat calmly watching from a windowsill. It is a quiet, peaceful, and non-intrusive presence.

Q11. What does the phrase “moves on” suggest about the nature of fog?

Ans: The phrase “moves on” suggests that the fog is temporary and transient in nature. It does not stay permanently in one place. Like a traveller passing through a town, the fog comes, stays briefly, and then moves on to another place. This phrase also suggests the impermanence of all things in life – just as fog comes and goes, our problems and difficulties are also temporary and will eventually pass.

Q12. What is the tone of the poem “Fog”?

Ans: The tone of the poem “Fog” is calm, peaceful, and reflective. The poet observes the fog with a sense of quiet wonder and appreciation. There is no anxiety, fear, or excitement in the poem. The language is simple and gentle, and the images created are soothing and peaceful. The overall tone mirrors the silent and gentle nature of the fog itself.

Q13. Why is the poem “Fog” considered a masterpiece despite its brevity?

Ans: The poem “Fog” is considered a masterpiece despite being only six lines long because of the power and beauty of its imagery. In just a few words, Carl Sandburg captures the complete life cycle of fog – its arrival, stay, and departure – through the brilliant metaphor of a cat. The poem demonstrates that great poetry does not need to be long; it needs to be precise, evocative, and imaginative. Every word in the poem contributes to the overall effect.

Q14. How does the poem reflect the relationship between nature and human civilization?

Ans: The poem reflects the gentle coexistence of nature and human civilization. The fog settles over both natural spaces (the harbour) and man-made spaces (the city). It does not discriminate between the two. Nature, represented by the fog, quietly envelops human civilization without causing any disturbance or harm. The poem suggests that natural forces move through our cities and towns with a quiet grace that we often fail to notice.

Q15. What lesson can we learn from the poem “Fog”?

Ans: From the poem “Fog,” we can learn several lessons. First, we should observe nature more closely and appreciate its quiet beauty. Second, we learn that all things in life are temporary – just as fog comes and goes, our difficulties and problems will also pass. Third, we learn that even ordinary things like fog can be seen as extraordinary if we look at them with imagination and sensitivity. The poem teaches us to be mindful and to find wonder in everyday experiences.

Q16. What qualities of a cat are attributed to the fog in the poem?

Ans: Several cat-like qualities are attributed to the fog in the poem: (i) Silent movement – like a cat’s soft-padded walk, the fog comes quietly. (ii) Stealth – like a cat that moves without being noticed, the fog creeps in undetected. (iii) Sitting on haunches – like a cat crouching down, the fog settles low over the landscape. (iv) Watchfulness – like a cat that observes everything alertly, the fog looks over the harbour and city. (v) Independence – like a cat that comes and goes as it pleases, the fog arrives and departs on its own terms.

Long Answer Questions (5-8 Marks)

Q1. “Fog” by Carl Sandburg is an excellent example of how a poet can convey deep meaning through a very short poem. Discuss the poem’s use of metaphor and its effectiveness.

Ans: Carl Sandburg’s “Fog” is a remarkable poem that demonstrates how powerful and effective a short poem can be when it uses metaphor skillfully. The entire poem is built around a single extended metaphor – the comparison of fog to a cat. This metaphor is not stated directly using “like” or “as” (which would make it a simile); instead, the fog is presented as being a cat through its actions and characteristics.

The metaphor works on multiple levels. First, it captures the physical movement of the fog. Just as a cat comes on its soft, padded paws without making any sound, the fog also arrives silently and gradually. A cat sits on its haunches and observes its surroundings with quiet alertness – similarly, the fog settles over the harbour and city and seems to watch everything below. When a cat decides to leave, it quietly gets up and walks away – the fog also lifts and disappears without warning.

Second, the metaphor captures the personality of the fog. Cats are mysterious, independent, and unpredictable creatures. They come and go as they please, without following anyone’s orders. Fog behaves the same way – it arrives at its own time, stays for as long as it wants, and departs when it chooses. No human can control or predict fog, just as no human can fully control a cat.

The effectiveness of this metaphor lies in its simplicity and accuracy. Sandburg does not overload the poem with descriptions or explanations. He presents just enough details – “little cat feet,” “sits looking,” “silent haunches,” “moves on” – to allow the reader’s imagination to fill in the rest. The metaphor transforms an ordinary weather phenomenon into something alive, graceful, and poetic. This is what makes “Fog” a masterpiece of brevity and imagination.

Q2. Describe the three stages of fog as presented in the poem. How does the poet use the cat metaphor to describe each stage?

Ans: Carl Sandburg presents three distinct stages of fog in his poem, and he uses the metaphor of a cat to describe each stage beautifully.

Stage 1 – Arrival: The first stage is the arrival of the fog. The poet writes, “The fog comes on little cat feet.” This describes how the fog arrives silently and gradually, just like a cat walking on its soft, padded paws. A cat enters a room so quietly that people often do not notice it until it is already there. Similarly, fog creeps in slowly and softly, rolling over the landscape without making any noise. One moment the air is clear, and the next moment, fog has enveloped everything. The word “little” emphasizes the gentleness of this approach.

Stage 2 – Stay: The second stage is the fog’s stay over the harbour and city. The poet writes, “It sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches.” Once the fog has arrived, it settles down and covers the landscape, just as a cat sits on its haunches (hind legs) and watches everything around it with quiet, watchful eyes. The fog seems to observe everything below – the ships in the harbour, the buildings in the city, the people going about their daily lives. The phrase “silent haunches” emphasizes the absolute quietness and stillness of the fog as it sits covering the landscape. During this stage, the fog is like a patient, watchful guardian.

Stage 3 – Departure: The third and final stage is the departure of the fog. The poet writes, “and then moves on.” After sitting and observing for a while, the fog quietly lifts and disappears, just as a cat silently gets up from its crouching position and walks away. The departure is as quiet and mysterious as the arrival. The fog does not announce that it is leaving; it simply moves on to another place. This mirrors the behaviour of a cat, which often leaves a room as quietly and suddenly as it entered. Through these three stages, Sandburg captures the complete life cycle of fog with remarkable precision and poetic beauty.

Q3. “Difficulties come and go, but they do not stay forever.” How does the poem “Fog” illustrate this idea? Relate it to real life.

Ans: The poem “Fog” by Carl Sandburg beautifully illustrates the idea that difficulties, like fog, are temporary. In the poem, the fog arrives silently and without warning, settles over the harbour and city, and then quietly moves on. It does not stay permanently; it is a passing phase. This can be seen as a metaphor for the difficulties and challenges we face in life.

Just as fog comes uninvited and without warning, problems and hardships often arrive in our lives unexpectedly. We do not choose when difficulties will come – they simply appear, much like fog rolling in over a city. When fog settles, it obscures our vision and makes everything seem unclear and uncertain. Similarly, when we are going through difficult times, our future seems foggy and uncertain. We cannot see the way forward clearly, and everything seems covered in a veil of confusion and worry.

However, the most important lesson from the poem is that the fog “moves on.” It does not stay forever. After a period of time, it lifts and the sky clears again. Similarly, no difficulty in life lasts forever. If we are patient and courageous, our problems will eventually pass, and clarity will return to our lives. The sun always shines again after the fog clears.

In real life, students may face difficulties in their studies, people may go through financial hardships, or individuals may experience personal losses. During such times, it is important to remember that these are temporary phases. Just as the fog does not panic or cause permanent damage – it simply comes and goes – we should also face our difficulties with calmness and patience, knowing that they will eventually pass. The poem teaches us resilience, patience, and hope.

Q4. How does Carl Sandburg’s poem “Fog” reflect his poetic style? What makes this poem unique in English literature?

Ans: Carl Sandburg’s poem “Fog” is a perfect reflection of his distinctive poetic style, which is characterized by simplicity, use of free verse, vivid imagery, and celebration of everyday life.

Simplicity of Language: Sandburg was known for using simple, everyday language rather than complex or ornate vocabulary. In “Fog,” every word is common and easy to understand – fog, comes, little, cat, feet, sits, looking, harbour, city, silent, haunches, moves on. There are no difficult or unusual words, yet the poem creates a powerful and lasting impression. This simplicity is the hallmark of Sandburg’s poetry.

Free Verse: Sandburg was one of the pioneers of free verse in American poetry. “Fog” does not follow any fixed rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. The lines vary in length, and the words flow naturally without being forced into a rigid structure. This free-flowing form perfectly suits the subject of the poem, as fog itself moves freely and naturally without any fixed pattern.

Vivid Imagery: Despite its brevity, the poem is rich in imagery. The reader can clearly visualize the fog creeping in on “little cat feet,” sitting on “silent haunches,” and then quietly moving on. Sandburg had the rare ability to create powerful images with very few words.

Celebration of the Ordinary: Sandburg found poetry in everyday things. While other poets wrote about grand themes like love, death, and the divine, Sandburg wrote about fog, smoke, and the industrial landscape. He believed that beauty could be found in the most ordinary aspects of life.

What makes this poem unique in English literature is its extreme brevity combined with its depth of meaning. In just six lines and twenty-one words, Sandburg has captured a complete natural phenomenon, created a memorable metaphor, and conveyed a universal truth about the transience of life. Very few poems in the English language achieve so much with so little. It proves that great poetry is not about length but about the precision and power of each word.

Q5. Compare the fog and the cat based on the poem. Why is the comparison between the fog and a cat more appropriate than a comparison with any other animal?

Ans: In the poem “Fog,” Carl Sandburg draws a detailed comparison between the fog and a cat. Both share several remarkable qualities that make this comparison exceptionally appropriate.

Silent Movement: A cat walks on soft, padded paws that make no sound. Similarly, fog arrives without any noise – there is no thunder, no wind, no warning. Both move in complete silence.

Stealth and Mystery: Cats are known for their stealth – they can enter and leave a room without being noticed. Fog also appears and disappears mysteriously. One moment the air is clear, and the next moment everything is covered in fog.

Sitting Posture: A cat sits on its haunches (hind legs) in a crouching position and watches its surroundings. Fog also settles low over the landscape, covering everything and seeming to observe the world below.

Independence: Cats are independent creatures that come and go as they please. No one can command a cat to come or leave. Similarly, fog is unpredictable and independent – it arrives and departs on its own schedule, beyond human control.

Temporary Presence: Cats often visit a place briefly and then move on. Fog also stays for a limited time before lifting and disappearing.

The comparison with a cat is more appropriate than with any other animal because no other animal combines all these qualities so perfectly. A dog, for instance, is noisy and eager – it barks, wags its tail, and draws attention to itself. A lion or a bear is large, loud, and powerful – the very opposite of fog’s gentle nature. A bird moves quickly and is easily seen. A snake might be silent, but it is not associated with sitting and watching. Only a cat possesses the unique combination of silence, stealth, gentleness, independence, watchfulness, and the characteristic posture of sitting on its haunches – all of which are qualities that perfectly describe the behaviour of fog.

Q6. Analyse the literary devices used in the poem “Fog” and explain how they contribute to the overall effect of the poem.

Ans: Despite being only six lines long, Carl Sandburg’s poem “Fog” employs several literary devices that work together to create a powerful and lasting impression on the reader.

Extended Metaphor: The most important literary device in the poem is the extended metaphor that compares fog to a cat. Unlike a simile, which uses “like” or “as,” a metaphor directly equates two things. The poet does not say the fog is “like” a cat; he describes the fog’s behaviour using cat-like attributes – “little cat feet,” “sits looking,” “silent haunches.” This metaphor runs through the entire poem, from the first line to the last, making it an “extended” metaphor. It transforms the abstract, formless fog into something concrete, familiar, and alive, making it easier for the reader to visualize and connect with.

Personification: The fog is given the qualities of a living being. It “comes,” “sits,” “looks,” and “moves on” – all verbs associated with conscious, living beings. This personification makes the fog seem alive and gives it a personality, making the poem more engaging and relatable.

Imagery: The poem is rich in visual imagery. The reader can picture the fog creeping in softly on little feet, sitting in a crouching position over the city, and then silently moving away. This imagery appeals to our sense of sight and creates a vivid, cinematic picture in our minds.

Free Verse: The absence of rhyme and fixed metre gives the poem a natural, flowing quality. Just as the fog moves freely without following any fixed path, the poem also flows freely without being constrained by rules of rhyme or rhythm. This structural choice reinforces the content of the poem.

Enjambment: Lines run into each other without pause – “The fog comes / on little cat feet” and “It sits looking / over harbour and city / on silent haunches.” This continuous flow mirrors the smooth, uninterrupted movement of the fog as it spreads over the landscape.

Transferred Epithet: In “silent haunches,” the silence belongs to the fog, not to the haunches themselves. This transferred epithet adds a poetic quality to the description and emphasizes the fog’s quietness.

Together, these devices create a poem that is simple on the surface but rich in meaning and imagery. They transform an ordinary weather phenomenon into a living, breathing entity, making the reader see fog in a completely new way. The effectiveness of these devices lies in their subtlety – they work so seamlessly that the reader barely notices them, yet their combined effect is powerful and memorable.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1. Who is the poet of the poem “Fog”?
(a) Robert Frost
(b) Walt Whitman
(c) Carl Sandburg
(d) John Keats

Ans: (c) Carl Sandburg

Q2. What is the fog compared to in the poem?
(a) A dog
(b) A cat
(c) A mouse
(d) A bird

Ans: (b) A cat

Q3. How does the fog come?
(a) On little dog feet
(b) On little rat feet
(c) On little bird feet
(d) On little cat feet

Ans: (d) On little cat feet

Q4. Where does the fog sit looking?
(a) Over mountains and valleys
(b) Over harbour and city
(c) Over rivers and forests
(d) Over fields and farms

Ans: (b) Over harbour and city

Q5. What does the fog sit on?
(a) Its paws
(b) Its back
(c) Its silent haunches
(d) Its stomach

Ans: (c) Its silent haunches

Q6. What happens to the fog at the end of the poem?
(a) It disappears suddenly
(b) It stays forever
(c) It moves on
(d) It gets denser

Ans: (c) It moves on

Q7. What is the dominant literary device used in the poem?
(a) Simile
(b) Metaphor
(c) Alliteration
(d) Onomatopoeia

Ans: (b) Metaphor

Q8. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
(a) AABB
(b) ABAB
(c) ABBA
(d) No rhyme scheme (free verse)

Ans: (d) No rhyme scheme (free verse)

Q9. What does the word “haunches” mean?
(a) Front legs
(b) Tail
(c) Hips and upper thighs; hindquarters
(d) Whiskers

Ans: (c) Hips and upper thighs; hindquarters

Q10. What does “it” in the third line of the poem refer to?
(a) The cat
(b) The fog
(c) The city
(d) The harbour

Ans: (b) The fog

Q11. Why is the fog compared with a cat and not with any other animal?
(a) Because of its loud nature
(b) Because of its colourful appearance
(c) Because of its silent and unpredictable manner
(d) Because of its large size

Ans: (c) Because of its silent and unpredictable manner

Q12. What does the poem suggest about the nature of fog?
(a) It is permanent and stays forever
(b) It is loud and destructive
(c) It is temporary and transient
(d) It is warm and comforting

Ans: (c) It is temporary and transient

Extract-Based Questions

Extract 1

“The fog comes
on little cat feet.”

Q1. What does the poet compare the fog to in these lines?

Ans: The poet compares the fog to a cat in these lines. He uses the metaphor “little cat feet” to describe how the fog arrives silently and softly, just like a cat walking on its padded paws.

Q2. What does the phrase “little cat feet” suggest about the fog’s movement?

Ans: The phrase “little cat feet” suggests that the fog moves silently, softly, and gently. Just as a cat moves on its small, soft paws without making any sound, the fog also arrives without any noise or warning. The word “little” emphasizes the delicacy and gentleness of the fog’s approach.

Q3. What literary device is used in these lines? Is it a simile or a metaphor?

Ans: The literary device used is a metaphor, not a simile. The poet does not say the fog is “like” a cat or comes “as” a cat (which would make it a simile). Instead, he directly attributes cat-like qualities to the fog by saying it comes “on little cat feet,” implying the fog is the cat itself.

Q4. Name the poem and the poet.

Ans: The poem is “Fog” and it is written by the American poet Carl Sandburg.

Extract 2

“It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.”

Q1. What does “it” refer to in these lines?

Ans: “It” refers to the fog in these lines. The poet has compared the fog to a cat through an extended metaphor, so “it” simultaneously represents both the fog and the metaphorical cat.

Q2. What is the fog doing in these lines?

Ans: In these lines, the fog is sitting on its silent haunches and looking over the harbour and the city. Like a cat that perches on a high place and quietly observes its surroundings, the fog has settled over the landscape and seems to be watching everything below. After observing for a while, it then moves on and departs.

Q3. What does “silent haunches” mean? What literary device is used here?

Ans: “Haunches” means the hips and upper thighs or hindquarters of an animal. When an animal sits on its haunches, it sits with its knees bent and its weight resting on its back legs. “Silent haunches” means the fog sits quietly without making any sound. The literary device used here is a transferred epithet – the adjective “silent” actually describes the fog (not the haunches), but it is transferred to the word “haunches.”

Q4. What does the phrase “and then moves on” tell us about the nature of fog?

Ans: The phrase “and then moves on” tells us that fog is temporary and transient in nature. It does not stay in one place forever. After sitting over the harbour and city for some time, it lifts and moves on to another location. This also suggests that nothing in nature is permanent – everything comes and eventually goes. It can also be interpreted as a life lesson that difficulties, like fog, come and go and do not last forever.

Extract 3

“The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.”

Q1. How does the comparison to “little cat feet” help us understand what the fog is like?

Ans: The comparison to “little cat feet” helps us understand that the fog is quiet, soft, and stealthy. Just as a cat moves on its soft, padded paws without making any noise, the fog also arrives silently and gently. The metaphor makes us realize that fog does not come with a loud announcement but creeps in slowly, covering the landscape without anyone noticing its approach.

Q2. The fog’s presence is described as one that is ________. Choose the most appropriate option.
(a) Loud and disruptive
(b) Stealthy and silent
(c) Warm and welcoming
(d) Frightening and dark

Ans: (b) Stealthy and silent

Q3. Identify the three actions of the fog described in this poem.

Ans: The three actions of the fog described in the poem are: (i) It comes on little cat feet – describing its silent arrival. (ii) It sits looking over the harbour and city on silent haunches – describing how it settles and observes. (iii) It moves on – describing its quiet departure.

Q4. What is the overall message conveyed through this poem?

Ans: The overall message of the poem is that nature works quietly and mysteriously. Natural phenomena like fog come and go without any fanfare. The poem also conveys the idea that everything in life is temporary – just as fog arrives, stays briefly, and then moves on, our problems and difficulties are also temporary and will eventually pass. The poem encourages us to observe nature closely and appreciate its subtle beauty.

Literary Devices – Summary Table

Literary Device	Example from the Poem	Explanation
Metaphor (Extended)	“The fog comes on little cat feet”	The fog is directly compared to a cat without using “like” or “as.” This metaphor extends throughout the entire poem.
Personification	“It sits looking over harbour and city”	The fog is given the qualities of a living being – it sits, looks, and moves.
Imagery	“on little cat feet,” “on silent haunches”	Vivid visual images are created that appeal to the reader’s sense of sight.
Free Verse	The entire poem	No fixed rhyme scheme or metrical pattern is followed.
Enjambment	“The fog comes / on little cat feet”	The meaning flows from one line to the next without pause.
Transferred Epithet	“silent haunches”	The adjective “silent” describes the fog, not the haunches.
Symbolism	Fog as a whole	Fog symbolizes transience, mystery, and the temporary nature of difficulties.

Important Value-Based Questions

Q1. What values does the poem “Fog” teach us?

Ans: The poem “Fog” teaches us several important values:

Patience: The fog comes and goes at its own pace. We should also learn to be patient in life, knowing that things will change in their own time.
Resilience: Just as fog eventually lifts, our difficulties are also temporary. We should face challenges with courage, knowing they will pass.
Observation: The poet finds beauty in something as ordinary as fog. We should learn to observe the world around us more carefully and appreciate the beauty in everyday things.
Humility: The fog operates silently without any fanfare. We too should learn to be humble and work quietly without seeking attention or praise.
Acceptance of Impermanence: The poem reminds us that nothing lasts forever. We should accept the temporary nature of both good and bad times.

Q2. How does the poem encourage us to look at nature differently?

Ans: The poem encourages us to look at nature with fresh, imaginative eyes. Most people consider fog to be just a weather phenomenon – something that reduces visibility and causes inconvenience. However, Carl Sandburg looks at fog and sees a cat – silent, graceful, mysterious, and beautiful. By transforming fog into a living, breathing creature through his metaphor, Sandburg shows us that nature is not just a backdrop to our lives but a source of endless wonder and beauty. The poem teaches us that if we observe nature closely and use our imagination, even the most ordinary natural phenomena can become sources of joy, inspiration, and poetic beauty. We should stop taking nature for granted and learn to appreciate its subtle beauty.

We hope this comprehensive collection of questions and answers for the poem “Fog” by Carl Sandburg has been helpful for your HSLC examination preparation. For more Class 10 English study materials, visit hslcguru.com.