Who wrote the poem Fog?

The poem was written by the American poet Carl Sandburg.

What is the fog compared to in the poem?

The fog is compared to a cat throughout the poem.

What poetic device is mainly used in Fog?

The poem uses an extended metaphor, comparing the fog to a cat from start to finish.

What is the central idea of Fog?

It captures the silent, brief and mysterious coming and going of fog through a single vivid image.

CBSE Class 10 First Flight · Chapter 17

Fog

Carl Sandburg

Fog imagined as a cat that arrives, watches, and quietly moves on

Summary

In just a few lines, Sandburg compares the fog to a cat. The fog arrives silently, the way a cat moves on soft little feet, and settles over the harbour and city without any sound or warning.

The poet then pictures the fog sitting and looking over the city and harbour, just as a cat sits on its haunches and watches its surroundings. After this quiet pause, the fog moves on and disappears, again like a cat that gets up and leaves.

The poem captures a passing moment in nature with a single, fresh image. Its central idea is the silent, brief and mysterious nature of fog, conveyed entirely through the extended comparison with a cat.

Key points to remember

Theme: a fresh, vivid look at an ordinary natural event — the coming and going of fog.
Central device — extended metaphor: the entire fog is compared to a cat.
Device — imagery: silent feet, sitting and looking, then moving on create clear pictures.
Tone: calm, observant and quietly reflective.
The fog is shown as silent, gentle and temporary.
Free verse with no rhyme keeps the poem light and unhurried.
Its brevity mirrors how briefly the fog itself lingers.

Important questions (board pattern)

3 marksHow does Sandburg compare the fog to a cat?
How to answer: Explain the extended metaphor: the fog arrives on silent feet, sits and watches, then moves on, just like a cat.
2 marksWhat is the central idea of the poem 'Fog'?
How to answer: State that it captures the silent, brief and mysterious arrival and departure of fog through one fresh image.
6 marksWhy is the comparison of fog to a cat effective?
How to answer: Develop how a cat's silent movement, watchful stillness and sudden departure perfectly mirror the qualities of fog, making an abstract thing vivid.
3 marksIdentify the main poetic device in the poem and explain it.
How to answer: Name the extended metaphor and show how every line builds the single fog–cat comparison.
3 marksHow does the form of the poem suit its subject?
How to answer: Argue that the short, unrhymed free verse mirrors the brief, quiet presence of fog.

Common exam traps

Don't call the fog–cat link a simile throughout; it is sustained as an extended metaphor.
Don't pad the answer; the poem is tiny, so keep responses precise and image-focused.
Don't add meanings the poem doesn't support — its strength is one clean comparison.
Mention the free-verse form if asked about structure; there is no rhyme scheme.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote the poem Fog?: The poem was written by the American poet Carl Sandburg.
What is the fog compared to in the poem?: The fog is compared to a cat throughout the poem.
What poetic device is mainly used in Fog?: The poem uses an extended metaphor, comparing the fog to a cat from start to finish.
What is the central idea of Fog?: It captures the silent, brief and mysterious coming and going of fog through a single vivid image.