Class 10 English - KERALA

Poetry: Fog

The poem 'Fog' by Carl Sandburg is a short, evocative piece prescribed for Class 10 Kerala SCERT English. It beautifully captures the arrival and departure of fog through an extended metaphor comparing it to a cat. Students will explore poetic devices like metaphor and imagery, learning how the poet creates a visual picture of nature using minimal words. For board exams, questions typically focus on the central metaphor, rhyming scheme (free verse), and the comparison between the silent movement of a cat and the creeping fog, making comprehension and appreciation crucial for scoring high marks.

Start Learning Free

Key Concepts

Extended Metaphor

A comparison between two unrelated things sustained throughout the poem; here, the fog is continuously compared to a cat.

Free Verse

A literary device where the poem does not follow any specific rhyme scheme or metrical pattern, reflecting the unpredictable nature of fog.

Visual Imagery

Descriptive language used by the poet to create mental pictures for the reader, such as the fog sitting 'on little cat feet'.

Transferred Epithet

A poetic device where an adjective is transferred from the noun it logically belongs to, though not prominently used here, the overall personification of fog is key.

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, stanza, or couplet, giving the poem a fluid motion.

Important Formulas

Definition: Metaphor - Direct comparison between two things without using 'like' or 'as'
Definition: Free Verse - Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter
Definition: Imagery - Visually descriptive or figurative language in a literary work

Board Exam Info

In Kerala (SCERT) Class 10 English exams, poetry sections usually carry around 4 to 8 marks. Common question types include short answer questions analyzing the central metaphor, reference to context (RTC) questions, appreciation questions about poetic devices, and paragraphs on the theme of nature's silent transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the poet compare fog to a cat?

The poet compares fog to a cat because both arrive silently, move stealthily without making noise, and settle down in a specific area before disappearing just as quietly.

What is the rhyme scheme of the poem 'Fog'?

The poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not have a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, which mimics the unpredictable and free-flowing nature of fog.

What does the phrase 'on little cat feet' signify?

It signifies the silent, cautious, and stealthy manner in which the fog creeps into the city harbor and over the silent spaces.

Learn Poetry: Fog with Your AI Tutor

10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.

Lecture

Key Points

Interactive

Quiz

Flashcards

Start Learning Free

More English Chapters - KERALA Class 10