Class 10 English - UP
Poetry: Fog
The poem 'Fog' by Carl Sandburg is a short yet profound piece prescribed for Class 10 students under the Uttar Pradesh (UPMSP) board. In this poem, the poet describes the gradual arrival and departure of fog over a city and harbor, comparing it metaphorically to a cat. Through this imagery, the poet highlights the silent, stealthy, and unpredictable nature of both fog and feline movement. For board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing students' comprehension of poetic devices, metaphor, extended metaphor, and stanza-wise interpretation. Questions often focus on the central theme and the comparison drawn between the fog and a cat.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Extended Metaphor
A comparison between two unrelated things that continues throughout a series of sentences or lines in a poem; here, the fog is continuously compared to a cat.
Cat-like Characteristics
The fog comes silently on 'little cat feet,' which emphasizes its quiet, unannounced approach and stealthy movement.
Silent Observer
Just as a cat sits and observes its surroundings without making a sound, the fog sits 'looking over harbor and city' before moving on.
Enjambment
A poetic device where a sentence or clause flows over from one line to the next without a pause, used effectively throughout this free-verse poem.
Free Verse
A literary device that can be defined as poetry that is free from limitations of regular meter or rhythm and does not rhyme with forms.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Uttar Pradesh (UPMSP) Class 10 English Literature paper, poetry extracts usually carry 3 to 4 marks (reference to context questions), and short answer questions carry about 2 to 3 marks. Students are commonly asked to identify poetic devices, explain specific lines, or state the central idea of the poem.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central idea of the poem 'Fog'?
The central idea is the striking similarity between the silent, stealthy movement of a cat and the sudden, quiet arrival and departure of fog over a city and harbor.
Which poetic device is predominantly used in the poem?
Metaphor is the main poetic device used, as the fog is directly compared to a cat throughout the entire poem.
Why does the poet compare the fog to a cat?
The poet compares fog to a cat because both arrive silently, move stealthily on soft feet, sit quietly observing their surroundings, and depart without making a sound.
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