class 10 English - Very Important & Question Anwers

Short Answer Type Questions (2-3 Marks)

Word limit: 30-40 words

Q1. How does the poet describe the arrival of the fog?

Ans: The poet describes the arrival of the fog as silent and stealthy. He uses the metaphor of a cat to show that the fog doesn’t make any noise; it comes on “little cat feet,” making its presence felt only after it has already arrived.

Q2. What does the fog do while it is over the city and the harbour?

Ans: The fog “sits looking” over the harbour and the city. Just like a cat sits on its haunches with its knees bent, the fog settles over the area silently, observing everything before eventually moving on.

Q3. What does “it” refer to in the poem? How does “it” move?

Ans: “It” refers to the Fog. It moves silently and slowly. The poet emphasizes that it doesn’t stay in one place forever; after sitting and looking for a while, it “moves on” just as quietly as it came.

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Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)

Word limit: 100-120 words

Q1. Discuss the use of the “Cat” as a metaphor for the Fog.

Ans: Carl Sandburg uses an extended metaphor to compare the fog to a cat. He finds several points of similarity between the two. First, the movement: both a cat and fog enter a space so silently that no one notices their arrival (“little cat feet”). Second, the posture: the way fog covers the city is compared to a cat sitting on its “silent haunches.” Third, the behavior: a cat often sits and looks at its surroundings with a mysterious gaze before leaving; similarly, the fog settles over the harbour and city, stays for a while, and then vanishes without leaving a trace. This metaphor helps the reader visualize the fog not as a weather phenomenon, but as a living, breathing creature.

Q2. What is the central theme of the poem “Fog”?

Ans: The central theme of the poem is the silent and transient (temporary) nature of things. The poem captures a small moment in nature. It suggests that changes in life or nature often happen very quietly, without any grand announcement. The fog represents a temporary state that masks the world for a while and then moves away. It teaches us to observe the subtle beauty in our surroundings. The poem also highlights the idea of “detachment”—the fog comes, observes, and moves on without getting attached to the city or the harbour, much like the independent nature of a cat.

Q3. How does the poet create a vivid image in just six lines?

Ans: The poet uses Minimalism and strong Imagery. By using only 21 words, Sandburg creates a complete picture. He doesn’t use difficult vocabulary; instead, he relies on a powerful comparison. The phrase “little cat feet” immediately creates a tactile and auditory image of silence. “Looking over harbour and city” creates a panoramic visual image. Finally, “on silent haunches” gives the fog a physical shape and form. The poem is a “Haiku-like” snapshot that proves that poetry doesn’t need to be long to be deeply evocative and meaningful.