**Poem: Fog by Carl Sandburg**
**Key Points:**
Fog is compared to a cat using metaphor (not simile). The poem does not explicitly say 'like' or 'as'.
**Evidence of Cat Comparison:**
**Literary Devices:**
**Metaphor:** Fog = cat (direct comparison)
**Personification:** Fog sits, looks, moves (human/animal actions)
**Imagery:** Visual (harbour, city), sensory (silent)
**Free Verse:** Poetry with no fixed rhyme scheme or meter.
**Themes:** Nature's quiet beauty, transience, observation, mystery of natural phenomena.
**Important:** The poet does NOT use 'like' or 'as', making it metaphor, not simile.
Q1. What does Sandburg compare the fog to in the poem?
Answer: A — The fog is metaphorically compared to a cat through details like little cat feet, haunches, and silent movement.
Q2. Which literary device is primarily used in 'Fog'?
Answer: B — Metaphor directly compares fog to a cat without using 'like' or 'as', making it a pure metaphor rather than simile.
Q3. What does the word 'haunches' in the poem mean?
Answer: B — Haunches refer to the hind legs or hindquarters, depicting the fog sitting in a cat-like crouching position.
Q4. How does the fog arrive according to the poem?
Answer: B — The first line states 'The fog comes on little cat feet,' emphasizing its silent and gentle arrival.
Q5. What is the main theme of 'Fog' by Carl Sandburg?
Answer: C — The poem emphasizes fog's quiet arrival, observation of the landscape, and silent departure, highlighting its transient beauty.
Q6. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the fog as described by Sandburg?
Answer: C — The poem emphasizes the fog's silence and quiet nature; it explicitly does not create loud sounds.
Q7. The poem 'Fog' is written in which poetic form?
Answer: B — Free verse is poetry without a fixed rhyme scheme or metrical pattern, which applies to Sandburg's 'Fog'.
Q8. When the fog 'sits looking over harbour and city,' which device does the poet use?
Answer: C — Personification gives fog human actions like sitting and looking, while metaphor compares fog to a cat.
Q9. What does the phrase 'on silent haunches' suggest about the fog's nature? (Scenario-based)
Answer: C — Silent haunches (cat sitting position) suggest the fog is calm, observant, and present in a gentle, unobtrusive manner.
Q10. How does Sandburg convey the ephemeral nature of fog in the poem? (HOTS)
Answer: B — The poem's structure (arrival, sitting/observing, and moving on) emphasizes fog's temporary, transient presence in nature.
What does 'little cat feet' refer to in the poem?
It is a metaphor comparing the silent, soft, and gentle arrival of fog to the quiet movement of a cat's feet.
Who is the poet of 'Fog'?
Carl Sandburg wrote the poem 'Fog' in his characteristic free verse style.
What does 'haunches' mean in the context of the poem?
Haunches refers to the hind legs of an animal in a sitting position, emphasizing the cat-like posture of the fog.
What is a metaphor and how is it used in 'Fog'?
A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things; the entire poem compares fog to a cat without using 'like' or 'as'.
Does the poem have a regular rhyme scheme?
No, 'Fog' is written in free verse, which means it does not follow a regular rhyme scheme or metrical pattern.
What does the fog observe in the poem?
The fog sits looking over the harbour and city on silent haunches, observing the landscape below.
What poetic device is used when the fog 'sits' and 'moves'?
Personification is used, giving the fog human and animal qualities like sitting and moving intentionally.
What is the mood of the poem 'Fog'?
The mood is quiet, contemplative, and peaceful, emphasizing the silent and gentle nature of fog's arrival and departure.
Why does Sandburg compare fog to a cat and not to other animals?
Cats are silent, graceful, observant, and move without warning—qualities that match the fog's silent approach, observation, and gentle movement.
What does 'then moves on' suggest about the fog?
It suggests the transient and temporary nature of fog; it arrives, observes briefly, and departs without leaving a lasting impact.
How does the poet personify the fog in the poem? Give two examples from the text. [2 marks]
Look for human or animal actions given to fog. Examples: 'sits', 'looking', 'moves on'. Explain how these create personification.
Identify three things that suggest the fog is like a cat. How do these comparisons help us understand fog better? [3 marks]
Evidence: little cat feet (silent), hunches (sitting position), moves on (quiet departure). Connect each to fog's actual characteristics.
Analyze the use of free verse in 'Fog' and explain how it contributes to the poem's meaning. How does the lack of rhyme and regular meter reflect the subject matter? [5 marks]
Free verse lacks rigid structure, allowing natural rhythm and flow. Connect this to fog's formless, flowing nature. Discuss how free verse emphasizes subtlety and simplicity over formal patterns.
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