Fog Class 10 English: Summary, Poetic Devices, and IMPORTANT QUESTIONS


Fog Class 10 English: Summary, Poetic Devices, and IMPORTANT QUESTIONS 
In just six short lines, Carl Sandburg captures a beautiful moment in nature. The poem Fog describes the arrival of fog over a city and harbor, comparing it to a silent, creeping cat. It is one of the best examples of how a "metaphor" can bring a silent natural event to life.
Summary of Fog
The poet observes fog as it moves towards the city. He uses a striking comparison, saying the fog comes on "little cat feet." Just like a cat, the fog arrives silently and stealthily, without making any noise.
It then "sits" over the harbor and the city, looking out over everything quietly, much like a cat sits on its haunches (back legs) to observe its surroundings. Finally, just as silently as it arrived, the fog moves on and disappears. The poem highlights the silent, mysterious, and temporary nature of weather.

Short Answer Questions (2-3 Marks)
1. How does the poet employ the metaphor of a cat to describe the fog?
The poet compares the fog to a cat because both move silently and unexpectedly. By saying the fog comes on "little cat feet," Sandburg emphasizes its quiet and stealthy arrival. Just like a cat sits silently and looks around, the fog covers the city and harbor without disturbing anything.

2. What does the poet mean by the phrase "on silent haunches"?
"Haunches" refers to the back legs of an animal. When a cat sits on its haunches, it is alert and observing. By using this phrase, the poet suggests that the fog isn't just a random cloud; it seems to be "sitting" and watching over the city and the harbor before it eventually moves away.

3. Where does the fog look over, and what does it do next?
The fog looks over the city and the harbor. It settles there for a while, creating a quiet and mysterious atmosphere. After "sitting" for some time, it silently moves on, clearing the air as if it were never there.

4. What is the central theme of the poem Fog?
The central theme is the silent and powerful beauty of nature. It shows how natural phenomena occur without any noise or warning. It also reflects on the temporary nature of things—the fog comes, stays for a moment, and then moves on.

5. How does Sandburg describe the movement of the fog?
The movement is described as incredibly slow and quiet. There is no sudden storm or wind; it simply "comes" and then "moves on." The use of the cat metaphor perfectly captures this slow, rhythmic movement.

6. Why do you think the poet chose a cat for this comparison instead of another animal?
A cat is the perfect choice because it is known for its "silent" walk and its habit of sitting and observing things quietly. Other animals might be too loud or fast, but a cat matches the mysterious and calm vibe of the fog perfectly.

7. Is the fog depicted as a living entity in the poem?
Yes, through the use of personification and metaphor, the fog is given life-like qualities. By giving it "feet" and the ability to "sit" and "look," the poet makes the fog seem like a living creature that is visiting the city.

8. What atmosphere does the poem create?
The poem creates an atmosphere of peace, silence, and a bit of mystery. It makes the reader stop and appreciate a small, quiet moment that people usually ignore in the busy life of a city.

Long Answer Questions.
1. Nature has a way of interacting with the urban world. Discuss this with reference to the poem Fog.
The poem shows a beautiful interaction between the natural world (the fog) and the urban world (the city and harbor). Often, we think of cities as loud and nature as distant, but here, nature enters the city silently. It covers the man-made structures of the harbor and the city, reminding us that nature is always present, even in our busiest environments. It teaches us to find moments of stillness even in a crowded city.

2. Explain the use of 'Extended Metaphor' in the poem Fog.
An extended metaphor is a comparison that continues throughout a piece of writing. In this poem, the cat is the extended metaphor for the fog. From the beginning ("cat feet") to the middle ("sits looking") to the end ("moves on"), every action of the fog is described as an action of a cat. This helps the reader visualize the fog not as a scientific weather event, but as a silent, living visitor.

3. Contrast the arrival and the departure of the fog as described by Carl Sandburg.
Both the arrival and departure of the fog are identical in their silence. It arrives without warning on "little cat feet" and leaves just as mysteriously. There is no climax or loud ending. This reflects the reality of life where many changes happen quietly and we only realize they have occurred once they are over. The fog's departure is as graceful as its arrival.

4. How does the poet use 'Free Verse' to enhance the meaning of the poem?
The poem is written in free verse, meaning it has no fixed rhyme or rhythm. This lack of a strict structure mirrors the "formless" nature of the fog itself. Just as the fog can take any shape and move freely, the poem's lines are short and move at their own pace. This makes the poem feel more natural and organic.

5. What does the poem tell us about the poet’s perspective on nature?
Carl Sandburg seems to be a keen observer of small details. His perspective is one of deep respect and curiosity. He doesn't see the fog as a nuisance that blocks vision; he sees it as a beautiful, living phenomenon. This encourages the reader to look at the world with fresh eyes and find art in the most common natural events.

Practice MCQs for Quick Revision
1. Who is the poet of the poem ‘Fog’?
A. Robert Frost
B. Carl Sandburg
C. Walt Whitman
D. Leslie Norris
Answer: B
2. The fog is compared to which animal?
A. A dog
B. A tiger
C. A cat
D. A lion
Answer: C
3. How does the fog arrive?
A. Loudly
B. Silently
C. With a storm
D. With rain
Answer: B
4. What does the fog do over the harbor and city?
A. It dances
B. It sits looking
C. It rains
D. It disappears immediately
Answer: B
5. What are ‘haunches’?
A. Front legs
B. Back legs/upper thighs
C. Ears
D. Tail
Answer: B
6. Where does the fog settle?
A. Over the mountains
B. Over the harbor and city
C. Over the forest
D. Over the desert
Answer: B
7. Which poetic device is used in "The fog comes on little cat feet"?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Alliteration
D. Personification
Answer: B
8. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
A. abab
B. aabb
C. Free verse (no rhyme)
D. abcd
Answer: C
9. What does the fog do at the end of the poem?
A. It turns into rain
B. It stays forever
C. It moves on
D. It becomes thicker
Answer: C
10. What is the tone of the poem?
A. Violent
B. Calm and observant
C. Sad
D. Angry
Answer: B
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