Fog Solutions and Questions & Answers

Content Structure

1. About the author – Carl Sandburg
2. Summary of the poem Fog
3. Word meanings
4. Thinking about the poem
5. Extra Questions and Answers
- 5A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- 5B. Fill in the blanks
- 5C. True and false
- 5D. One-sentence questions and answers
- 5D. Short Questions and Answers
- 5E. Long Questions and Answers

1. About the Author – Carl Sandburg

Carl Sandburg was a famous American poet, writer, journalist, and editor. He was born on 6 January 1878 in Galesburg, Illinois, USA, to Swedish immigrant parents. His poems are admired for their vivid imagery, straightforward language, and deep appreciation of nature and humanity. His short poem “Fog” is one of his most famous works, admired for its beautiful comparison of fog to a cat. Carl Sandburg passed away on 22 July 1967 in Flat Rock, North Carolina, USA.

2. Summary of the Poem “Fog”

The poem describes the arrival and departure of fog in a city and harbour. The poet compares the fog to a cat. Just as a cat moves quietly and gracefully, the fog comes silently without making any noise. It settles over the harbour and city and appears to sit and observe everything around it. The fog remains there for some time and then quietly disappears, just as a cat walks away unnoticed. Though the poem is very short, it creates a clear picture of the fog’s mysterious and gentle movement. The poet uses simple words to show the beauty and quietness of nature.

3. Word meaning

Word	Meaning
Fog	A thick cloud of tiny water droplets near the ground that makes it difficult to see.
Harbour	A sheltered area of water where ships and boats can anchor safely.
Haunches	The hind legs and hips of an animal on which it sits.
Moves on	Goes away or continues moving to another place.
Little cat feet	A metaphor suggesting soft, silent, and graceful movement.
Harbour and city	The places over which the fog spreads and settles.

4. Thinking about the Poem

1. (i) What does Sandburg think the fog is like?
Ans: Sandburg thinks that the fog is like a cat. He compares the fog to a cat because both move quietly, gently, and without attracting attention. Just as a cat silently enters a place and sits watching its surroundings, the fog quietly spreads over the harbour and city before disappearing. This comparison helps readers visualize the fog’s soft and mysterious movement.

(ii) How does the fog come?
Ans: The fog comes silently and gently, “on little cat feet.” The poet suggests that the fog moves softly and quietly, just as a cat walks on its padded paws without making any noise. Its arrival is so smooth that people may not even notice when it appears.

(iii) What does ‘it’ in the third line refer to?
Ans: The word “it” in the third line refers to the fog. The poet imagines the fog as a cat that sits quietly and looks over the harbour and city. By using the word “it,” he continues the comparison between the fog and a cat.

(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 by using the words “like” or “as.” Instead, he uses a metaphor and describes the fog as if it were a cat.

Three things that tell us that the fog is like a cat are:

“The fog comes on little cat feet” – The fog moves silently and softly like a cat.
“It sits looking” – The fog is imagined as a cat sitting quietly and watching its surroundings.
“On silent haunches” – A cat sits on its haunches, and the fog is described in the same way, emphasizing its stillness and silence.

These details help create the image of the fog as a quiet and mysterious cat.

2. (i) Find metaphors for the following words and complete the table below. Also try to say how they are alike.

Thing	Metaphor	How They Are Alike
Storm	Tiger	A storm is powerful, fierce, and unpredictable like a tiger.
Train	Snake	A train is long and moves in a winding manner like a snake.
Fire	Dragon	Fire is fierce, destructive, and breathes flames like a dragon.
School	Beehive	A school is busy and full of activity like a beehive.
Home	Nest	A home provides comfort, safety, and warmth like a bird’s nest.

(ii) Write a poem about the storm comparing it with an animal.

The storm came like a roaring lion,
Charging across the darkened sky.
Its mighty voice thundered loudly,
Making the trees bend and sigh.

It flashed its claws of lightning,
Across the clouds so high above.
The winds raced through the fields,
With power that none could stop.

Then slowly the lion grew tired,
Its angry roar faded away.
Peace returned to the silent land,
As calmness ended the day.

3. Does this poem have a rhyme scheme?
Ans: No, the poem does not have a rhyme scheme. None of the line endings rhyme with one another. The poem is written in free verse, which means it does not follow a regular pattern of rhyme or rhythm. Instead of relying on rhyme, the poet uses imagery, metaphor, and simple language to create a strong and memorable picture of the fog. The free verse form also reflects the natural and unrestricted movement of the fog itself.

5. Extra Questions and Answers

5A. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)

1. How does the poet describe the fog?
A. As a bird
B. As a dog
C. As a cat
D. As a horse

Ans: (C) As a cat

2. The fog comes on ______.
A. little cat feet
B. little dog feet
C. silent wings
D. tiny paws of a tiger

Ans: (A) little cat feet

3. The word “harbour” refers to a place where ______.
A. birds live
B. ships are kept safely
C. people buy food
D. trains stop

Ans: (B) ships are kept safely

4. The fog looks over the harbour and city ______.
A. loudly
B. silently
C. angrily
D. happily

Ans: (B) silently

5. Which quality of a cat is compared to the fog?
A. Strength
B. Speed
C. Quiet movement
D. Loud voice

Ans: (C) Quiet movement

6. The poem “Fog” is written by ______.
A. Robert Frost
B. Carl Sandburg
C. Walt Whitman
D. William Wordsworth

Ans: (B) Carl Sandburg

7. How many lines are there in the poem?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7

Ans: (C) 6

8. The poet personifies the fog by making it ______.
A. sing songs
B. sit and look like a living creature
C. fly like a bird
D. roar like a lion

Ans: (B) sit and look like a living creature

9. Which of the following best describes the movement of the fog?
A. Slow and silent
B. Fast and noisy
C. Rough and violent
D. Sudden and loud

Ans: (A) Slow and silent

10. What does the fog observe while sitting?
A. Forest and river
B. Harbour and city
C. Mountains and valleys
D. Fields and villages

Ans: (B) Harbour and city

5B. Fill in the blanks

1. The fog comes on little ______ feet. (cat)
2. The fog comes on little cat ______. (feet)
3. The fog sits looking over harbour and ______. (city)
4. The fog sits looking over ______ and city. (harbour)
5. The fog sits on silent ______. (haunches)
6. The fog comes quietly like a ______. (cat)
7. The fog arrives on little cat ______. (feet)
8. The poem describes the quiet movement of the ______. (fog)

5C. True or False

1. The harbour and city are observed by the fog. (True)
2. The poem describes the fog as loud and frightening. (False)
3. The word “haunches” refers to the hind legs or hips of an animal. (True)
4. The fog comes suddenly with thunder and lightning. (False)
5. The poem presents the fog as gentle and silent. (True)
6. The fog is personified as a living creature. (True)
7. The fog looks over mountains and forests. (False)
8. The poem is about the silent arrival and departure of fog. (True)
9. The fog moves away after sitting for a while. (True)
10. The poet uses the image of a cat to show the quiet movement of the fog. (True)

5D. One-Sentence Questions and Answers

1. What does the word “harbour” mean?
Ans: A harbour is a place where ships are kept safely.

2. What is the meaning of the word “haunches”?
Ans: Haunches means the hind legs or hips of an animal.

3. How does the fog look over the harbour and city?
Ans: The fog looks over the harbour and city silently.

4. What does the fog do after sitting for some time?
Ans: The fog moves on after sitting for some time.

5. Which quality of a cat is compared to the fog?
Ans: The fog is compared to a cat’s quiet movement.

6. Who is the poet of the poem “Fog”?
Ans: The poet of the poem “Fog” is Carl Sandburg.

7. How is the fog personified in the poem?
Ans: The fog is personified as a living creature that sits and looks around.

8. What is the mood of the poem?
Ans: The mood of the poem is peaceful and quiet.

9. How is the movement of the fog described?
Ans: The movement of the fog is described as slow and silent.

10. Why is the fog compared to a cat?
Ans: The fog is compared to a cat because both are quiet and graceful.

11. What is the central idea of the poem?
Ans: The central idea of the poem is the silent arrival and departure of fog.

5E. Short Questions and Answers

1. Why does the poet compare the fog to a cat?
Ans: The poet compares the fog to a cat because both move silently and gracefully. A cat can enter a place without attracting attention, and the fog also appears quietly. This comparison helps readers imagine the calm and mysterious nature of the fog and makes the description more vivid.

2. What is meant by the phrase “silent haunches”?
Ans: The phrase “silent haunches” refers to the way a cat sits quietly on its hind legs or hips. The poet imagines the fog as a cat sitting silently and watching its surroundings. This phrase strengthens the comparison between the fog and a cat and creates a clear visual image.

3. What is the central idea of the poem?
Ans: The central idea of the poem is the quiet and mysterious movement of fog. The poet shows how fog appears silently, stays for a while, and then disappears. Through the metaphor of a cat, the poem highlights the beauty, calmness, and gentleness of nature.

4. How does the poem show the beauty of nature?
Ans: The poem shows the beauty of nature by describing the fog in a creative and imaginative way. Instead of giving a scientific description, the poet compares the fog to a cat. This comparison helps readers appreciate the silent, graceful, and peaceful qualities of natural phenomena.

5. Why is the poem “Fog” considered a nature poem?
Ans: The poem is considered a nature poem because it focuses on a natural phenomenon—the fog. The poet describes its movement and appearance in an imaginative way. By highlighting the beauty and mystery of the fog, the poem encourages readers to observe and appreciate nature.

6. What does the poet mean by “The fog comes on little cat feet”?
Ans: The poet means that the fog arrives very quietly and gently, just like a cat walking softly. Cats are known for their silent movements, and the fog also appears without making any sound. This comparison helps readers imagine the smooth and unnoticed arrival of the fog.

7. How does the poet make the fog seem mysterious?
Ans: The poet makes the fog seem mysterious by comparing it to a silent cat. The fog arrives unnoticed, quietly watches the harbour and city, and then disappears. Its silent movement and temporary presence create a sense of mystery and wonder, making readers curious about its nature.

8. What lesson can we learn from the poem?
Ans: The poem teaches us to appreciate the simple and beautiful things in nature. It reminds us that nature often works quietly and gracefully. By observing ordinary events like the arrival of fog, we can develop a greater sense of wonder and appreciation for the world around us.

9. How does the poem appeal to the reader’s imagination?
Ans: The poem appeals to the reader’s imagination through its comparison of fog to a cat. Readers can easily picture a cat moving silently and sitting quietly. This image helps them understand the nature of fog and makes the poem vivid, creative, and enjoyable to read.

10. Why is the poem an example of free verse?
Ans: The poem is an example of free verse because it does not follow a fixed rhyme scheme or regular rhythm. The lines vary in length, and the poet focuses on creating an image rather than following traditional poetic rules. This style allows the description to flow naturally and effectively.

5F. Long Questions and Answers

1. Explain the metaphor used in the poem “Fog”.
Ans: The poem uses an extended metaphor in which the fog is compared to a cat. The poet does not directly say that the fog is “like” a cat; instead, he describes it as if it were a cat. The fog comes on little cat feet, sits on silent haunches, and then moves on. These actions are typical of a cat and help readers imagine the silent and graceful movement of the fog. The metaphor makes the poem vivid and interesting because it turns an ordinary weather condition into a living creature. Through this comparison, the poet successfully conveys the gentle, mysterious, and peaceful nature of the fog.

2. Why is “Fog” considered a simple yet powerful poem?
Ans: “Fog” is considered a simple yet powerful poem because it uses only a few lines and simple words to create a strong impression. The poet describes the fog through a single extended metaphor, comparing it to a cat. This comparison helps readers easily visualize the silent and graceful movement of the fog. The poem captures the beauty and mystery of nature without using complicated language. Its simplicity makes it easy to understand, while its vivid imagery and deeper meaning make it memorable. The poem proves that a few carefully chosen words can create a lasting impact on readers.

3. Discuss the theme of the poem “Fog”.
Ans: The main theme of the poem is the quiet and mysterious movement of nature. Carl Sandburg focuses on the fog, a common natural phenomenon, and describes it in a unique way. By comparing the fog to a cat, he highlights its silent arrival, calm presence, and quiet departure. The poem shows that nature does not always display its power through loud or dramatic actions. Sometimes, it works gently and peacefully. The poem also emphasizes observation and imagination. It encourages readers to notice the beauty in everyday natural events. Through simple language and vivid imagery, the poet presents nature as graceful, mysterious, and worthy of appreciation.

4. Describe the imagery in the poem “Fog”.
Ans: The poem contains powerful imagery despite its brevity. The image of a cat walking softly on its feet helps readers imagine the silent arrival of the fog. The picture of the fog sitting on silent haunches and looking over the harbour and city creates a calm and peaceful scene. Readers can easily visualize the fog spreading across the landscape like a watchful cat. The imagery appeals mainly to the sense of sight and helps create a mysterious atmosphere. These vivid images make the poem memorable and allow readers to experience the beauty of nature through the poet’s imagination.

5. Why is “Fog” regarded as one of Carl Sandburg’s most memorable poems?
Ans: “Fog” is regarded as one of Carl Sandburg’s most memorable poems because of its simplicity, originality, and vivid imagery. In only a few lines, the poet creates a striking picture of the fog through the metaphor of a cat. The poem captures the silent and graceful movement of fog in a way that readers can easily understand and remember. Its free-verse style, simple language, and imaginative comparison make it accessible to readers of all ages. The poem also demonstrates how a brief piece of poetry can convey deep meaning and beauty. These qualities have made “Fog” a widely admired and frequently studied poem.

6. What makes the poem “Fog” unique and effective?
Ans: The poem “Fog” is unique and effective because it uses a single extended metaphor to describe a natural phenomenon. Instead of giving a detailed explanation of fog, the poet compares it to a cat. This simple comparison creates a strong visual image and helps readers understand the silent and graceful nature of fog. The poem’s free-verse style and concise structure add to its effectiveness. Every word contributes to the overall image, and there is no unnecessary description. The poem demonstrates how powerful poetry can be even when it is brief. Its originality, simplicity, and vivid imagery make it a remarkable work of literature.