Chapter 9 – Fog 10

Chapter 9 – Fog 

Fog – Carl Sandburg

 Word Meanings (Simple English)

• Fog – thick mist or cloud near the ground

• Cat – here used as a comparison (metaphor) for fog

• Little cat feet – soft and silent steps of a cat

• Harbor – place where ships rest

• Sits – stays quietly

• Looking – watching carefully

• Then moves on – goes away slowly

 Central Idea 

The poem Fog is very short but full of meaning. Carl Sandburg compares the fog to a little cat. Just like a cat arrives quietly, sits silently, and then moves away, the fog also comes softly, covers the city and harbor for some time, and then disappears without making noise. The poem shows the mysterious, silent, and temporary nature of fog. Through this comparison, the poet highlights that nature moves in its own way, silently and independently, beyond human control.

 Figures of Speech

1. Metaphor – Fog is directly compared to a cat.

2. Personification – Fog is given the quality of sitting and looking like a living creature.

3. Imagery – Creates a picture of fog covering the harbor and city.

4. Symbolism – Fog symbolizes uncertainty or mystery in life.

Textbook Question Answers 

Q1. (Thinking about the Poem –

 Q1) What does Sandburg think the fog is like?

 Sandburg thinks the fog is like a cat. It comes silently on “little cat feet,” sits quietly looking over the city and harbour, and then slowly moves away.

Q2. How does the fog come?

The fog comes quietly and silently, just like the soft steps of a cat. It does not make any noise but arrives suddenly, covering the city and harbour in its mist.

Q3. What does the fog do while it is on the harbour and city?

While the fog is on the harbour and city, it sits silently and looks around, just like a cat sitting quietly and watching its surroundings before moving on.

Q4. How does the fog leave the city?

 The fog leaves the city slowly and silently, just like a cat that gets up after sitting for a while and walks away without making any noise.