Thinking about the Poem
Q1.
(i) What does Sandburg think the fog is like?
Ans: According to Sandburg, the fog is like a cat.
(ii) How does the fog come?
Ans: The fog, much like a cat, arrives quietly on silent feet, observes the harbour and city, pauses on its haunches, and then moves on
(iii) What does ‘it’ in the third line refer to?
Ans: In the third line ‘it’ refers to the fog that has covered the city and it seems as if it is looking over the city like 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 explicitly say that the fog is like a cat. However, he uses the cat as a metaphor to describe the fog. Here are three points that illustrate this comparison:
- The fog arrives quietly on “little cat feet,” suggesting a slow and stealthy approach.
- It “looks over” the harbour and city, implying that the fog is observing, much like a cat would.
- The phrase “silent haunches” indicates the fog is sitting with its knees bent, similar to how a cat sits.
Through these descriptions, the poet effectively compares the fog to a cat without directly stating it.
Q2. You know that a metaphor compares two things by transferring a feature of one thing to the other (See Unit 1).
(i) Find metaphors for the following words and complete the table below.
Also try to say how they are alike. The first is done for you.
Storm
Tiger
Pounces over the fields, growls
Train
Fire
School
Home
Ans:
Storm
Tiger
Pounces over the fields, growls
Train
Gush of wind
Very fast movement
Fire
Anger
Danger that surrounds both on the basis of their intensities
School
Gateway
Leads to adulthood and a life of responsibility
Home
Nest
Provides hospitable, loving environment
Q3. Does this poem have a rhyme scheme? Poetry that does not have an obvious rhythm or rhyme is called ‘free verse’.
Ans: No, this poem does not have a rhyme scheme. It is written in free verse, which means it lacks a regular rhythm or rhyme.