“Fog” by Carl Sandburg is a short, imagistic poem that presents a simple, yet powerful, metaphor of fog as a cat. The poem captures the quiet, mysterious arrival and departure of fog over a city or harbor. With just a few lines, Sandburg conveys the transient nature of fog, its silence, and its gradual movement, leaving readers to ponder its broader meaning about nature and life.
Here are some 3-mark and 6-mark questions with value points and answers:
3-Marks Questions
- What is the central theme of the poem “Fog”?
- Value Points:
- Comparison of fog with a cat.
- Nature’s quiet and mysterious aspects.
- Transient nature of fog.
Answer: The central theme of the poem “Fog” is the mysterious and transient nature of the fog. The poet compares the fog to a cat, emphasizing its quiet and stealthy arrival. The poem reflects nature’s ability to appear suddenly, linger for a while, and then disappear without warning, much like a cat.
- How does the poet describe the fog in the poem?
- Value Points:
- Metaphor of a cat.
- Quiet and stealthy movement.
- Settling on the city and harbor.
Answer: The poet describes the fog by comparing it to a cat. It arrives quietly, moves stealthily, and settles on the city and harbor, observing its surroundings. Like a cat sitting on silent haunches, the fog lingers for a while before moving away without a sound.
- Why does the poet compare the fog to a cat?
- Value Points:
- Both the fog and a cat move silently.
- Fog’s unpredictability and stealth.
- Cat’s observational nature.
Answer: The poet compares the fog to a cat because both move silently and unpredictably. Like a cat, the fog arrives quietly, sits and observes, and then departs without any noise. This comparison emphasizes the fog’s mysterious and quiet presence, much like a cat’s behavior.
- What mood does the poem “Fog” create?
- Value Points:
- Sense of calm and quiet.
- Mysterious and contemplative mood.
- Simplicity and brevity evoke stillness.
Answer: The poem “Fog” creates a mood of calm and quiet. The imagery of the fog sitting silently like a cat evokes a sense of mystery and contemplation. The poem’s simplicity and brevity add to the feeling of stillness, capturing the fleeting yet profound moment of the fog’s presence.
- What is the significance of the fog “looking over the harbor and city”?
- Value Points:
- Personification of fog as an observer.
- The fog’s quiet observation mirrors a cat’s behavior.
- Shows the fog as a temporary visitor to the city.
Answer: The significance of the fog “looking over the harbor and city” is that it personifies the fog as an observer, much like a cat that surveys its surroundings. This emphasizes the temporary and quiet presence of the fog as it silently watches over the landscape before moving on, much like an indifferent, passing visitor.
6-Marks Questions
- Discuss the use of metaphor in Carl Sandburg’s poem “Fog.”
- Value Points:
- Fog compared to a cat.
- Shared qualities: quiet, stealthy, and observant.
- Enhances the mystery and transience of the fog.
- The metaphor brings nature to life.
Answer: In “Fog,” Carl Sandburg uses the metaphor of a cat to describe the fog. Both the fog and a cat share similar characteristics: they move quietly, almost unnoticed, and are observant of their surroundings. This metaphor enhances the sense of mystery and transience associated with the fog, suggesting that nature operates in quiet, unpredictable ways. By likening the fog to a living creature, the poet brings the natural world to life in a simple yet vivid way.
- How does the brevity of the poem contribute to its impact?
- Value Points:
- Short structure mirrors the fleeting nature of fog.
- Minimalist language enhances the mysterious tone.
- Encourages readers to reflect on the simplicity and beauty of nature.
- Focuses on a single, powerful image.
Answer: The brevity of the poem contributes significantly to its impact by mirroring the fleeting and transient nature of fog itself. The minimalist language and concise structure create a mysterious, almost ethereal tone, encouraging readers to pause and reflect on the simplicity and beauty of this natural phenomenon. By focusing on a single, powerful image—the fog as a cat—the poet captures a moment in nature in a way that feels both intimate and universal.
- Analyze the tone of the poem “Fog” and how it enhances the theme.
- Value Points:
- Calm, serene, and contemplative tone.
- Quiet observation, much like the fog itself.
- The tone matches the transient and peaceful nature of the fog.
- Enhances the theme of nature’s subtle, unnoticed presence.
Answer: The tone of the poem “Fog” is calm, serene, and contemplative, much like the fog itself. This quiet tone mirrors the nature of fog, which arrives and departs without fanfare, almost unnoticed. By maintaining a peaceful and subtle tone, the poet enhances the theme of nature’s quiet but powerful presence in our lives, showing how it can shape our surroundings in ways that are easy to overlook but still profound.
- How does Sandburg’s description of the fog reflect human interaction with nature?
- Value Points:
- Fog as an indifferent force of nature.
- Humans often overlook or underestimate nature’s subtle presence.
- Reflects nature’s quiet influence on urban life (harbor, city).
- Humans and nature co-exist, but nature remains an independent force.
Answer: Sandburg’s description of the fog reflects human interaction with nature as one of quiet co-existence. The fog, much like many aspects of nature, is indifferent to human activities, quietly coming and going as it pleases. Humans often overlook or underestimate nature’s subtle presence, especially in urban environments like the harbor and city. The poem suggests that while humans and nature live side by side, nature retains its own rhythm, free from human control.
- What is the significance of the poem’s setting (harbor and city) in “Fog”?
- Value Points:
- Contrast between natural phenomenon (fog) and urban environment (city).
- Nature intruding upon the man-made world.
- Harbor symbolizes the connection between land and sea, city as human progress.
- Fog’s presence highlights the interdependence of nature and urban life.
Answer: The setting of the harbor and city in “Fog” is significant because it contrasts a natural phenomenon (fog) with an urban environment (the city). The fog intrudes upon the man-made world, serving as a reminder that nature exists beyond human control. The harbor represents a meeting point between land and sea, while the city symbolizes human progress. The fog’s presence in this setting highlights the interdependence between nature and urban life, suggesting that despite human advancements, nature remains an essential and often unnoticed force in everyday life.
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