THE FOG

SUMMARY

“Fog” is a very short poem that vividly describes the appearance and
disappearance of fog in an unnamed city. The speaker compares this fog to a
cat that appears on “little cat feet,” “sits looking” over the city on its “silent
haunches,” then finally “moves on” in the poem’s last line. It’s not entirely
clear how the speaker feels about the fog, which could be seen as beautiful,
ominous, or a simple fact of the weather in the moment being described.
Regardless, by memorably expressing the hushed presence of the fog, the
poem evokes the mystery and magic of nature as a whole.

The speaker’s comparison of the fog to a cat indicates, from the start, that the
poem isn’t just about fog. It’s also about nature in a larger sense, and the ways
one aspect of the natural world (the fog covering a city) reminds the speaker of
another (a cat). By comparing the fog, which isn’t alive, to a cat, which is, the
speaker imbues the fog with a sense of life and agency, making the natural
world seem more alert than people often think it is.

The speaker’s comparison makes sense on a number of levels. Both fog and
cats are often silent; both are often quick to appear and disappear, as the fog
does in the span of the poem’s six short lines. As the poet's metaphor links the
two, the fog seems to take on further cat-like qualities. Since cats are often
intensely observant, independent, and aloof, the fog seems, in the poem, to
possess those qualities as well. The comparison makes the fog, which readers
might take for granted as an ordinary natural phenomenon, seem mysterious
and unknowable. It also suggests a connection between the living and non-
living features of the natural world, as well as nature's mysterious power to
make lasting impressions on the imagination. The metaphor may even invite
readers to view the natural world as truly alive and observant, rather than as a
passive, unremarkable part of daily life.
Finally, the poem’s comparison suggests the value of paying close attention to
one’s surroundings, especially nature. The mysterious grandeur of the fog’s
appearance and disappearance prompts the speaker to describe the moment
in a vividly imaginative, metaphorical way. The memorable poem that results
suggests the power of being immersed in, and open to, nature’s mysteries.

Q1.Difficulties come but they are not to stay forever. They come and go.
Comment referring to the poem ‘Fog’.
Ans: Difficulties, when faced by people, tend to leave them hopeless and
shattered. It takes a lot of courage to overcome any problem and to solve it. If
we take a clue from the poem and compare difficulties to fog, we find that just
like fog, difficulties also come and go.
One need not be hopeless and lose courage when problems come, one should
rather think of it as fog, meaning that it has not come to stay but will always
leave, like fog.

Q2. How does the setting of a harbour and city enhance the overall mood of
the poem “Fog”? Answer within 100 to 120 words.
Ans: The setting of a harbour and city enhances the overall mood of the poem
by creating a scene that is both familiar and serene. Harbours and cities are
usually busy places full of activity. When the fog comes in, it blankets these
areas, bringing a sense of calmness and quiet.
This contrast between the usual hustle and the sudden stillness of the fog
makes the mood more peaceful and reflective. The fog’s presence over the
harbour and city also adds a touch of mystery, as it obscures the surroundings
and creates a feeling of introspection. This setting helps to emphasise the fog’s
gentle and calming influence on the environment.

Q3. What might the fog symbolise in terms of emotions or thoughts? How does
this symbolism help you understand the poem better? Answer within 100 to
120 words.
Ans: The fog might symbolise unclear or hidden emotions and thoughts. Just
like the fog covers everything and makes it hard to see, our emotions can
sometimes make it hard for us to think clearly. This symbolism helps us
understand the poem as a reflection of times when we feel lost or confused.
It reminds us that these feelings, like the fog, are temporary and will pass. By
seeing the fog as a symbol of confusion, we can learn to be patient during
tough times and know that we will find clarity. This helps us to trust that things
will get better when the confusion lifts, just as the fog clears.

Q4.How can the way the poem shows the fog as a quiet observer help us
understand others and the world? Answer within 100 to 120 words.
Ans: The fog as a quiet observer shows us the value of watching and listening
before acting. In the poem, the fog watches the harbour and city without
interfering, teaching us to pay attention and observe carefully. This reminds us
to be patient and listen to others before making quick judgments.
By doing this, we can understand people’s feelings and needs better. The fog
teaches that understanding comes from being calm and thoughtful, not from
acting right away. This approach can help us build stronger connections with
others and appreciate the small details in the world around us.

Q5. Do you agree with the poet’s comparison of fog to a cat or do you feel
some other image would have done justice to the poem?
Ans:Yes, I totally agree with the poet’s comparison of fog to a cat. The poet
compared the sneaky, and silent movements of a cat to the movement of the
fog. The way a cat walks into a place with its padded paws without making any
noise and sits there on its “haunches” silently, fog too enters the city silently
and stays there for a short time. Fog moves out of the city in the same quiet
manner as the cat that moves silently without anybody noticing her absence.
Any other image or animal would not have done justice to the poem as the
movements of a cat perfectly define that of fog.
Q6. Nature has many wonders that people take for granted and never pay
attention to. How is the poem ‘Fog’ different from this perspective?

Ans:The poet has taken utmost pleasure in nature and natural phenomenon
like fog. Fog is so special to the poet that he cared enough not only to write
about it, but also thinks of its resemblance with other things in the world. In his
close attention to fog, he found fog resembles a cat, in the way it moves and
sits on its haunches. The fact that such a resemblance was found by the poet
shows how connected he is to various things in nature. This poem serves as a
motivation for people, who take nature for granted to find such interesting
comparisons and similarities around them.
Q7. How is “Fog “ an extended metaphor?
Ans: The entire poem is an extended metaphor comparing the fog to a cat. This
makes the fog endearing and gives it life and vitality. Instead of a mindless,
inanimate occurrence, fog is given the ability to think, act, and move
purposefully. The fog "comes / on little cat feet" (2), "sits" (3), and "moves on"
(6). It is presented as a purposeful natural being, moving of its own free will.
The fog becomes both mysterious and mischievous when it is compared to a cat.
Cats have been presented as ambivalent creatures throughout history. The
ancient Egyptians viewed cats as sources of good luck and divine beings because
of their mice-hunting abilities. In Europe, however, cats were associated with
superstition and evil. Cats were killed in the Middle Ages because they were
incorrectly blamed for spreading the Bubonic Plague. Cats were also associated
with witches and the devil, further tarnishing their reputation in a predominantly
Christian Europe.

With all of these different connotations, cats are often depicted as mysterious.
And by comparing the fog to a cat, these connections are also transferred to the
fog itself. Instead of being a mindless force, it becomes mysterious and
ambivalent like a cat.

Q8. Comment about the imagery in the “FOG”?

The speaker also says the fog sits "on silent haunches" (5) like a cat would when
it's getting ready to pounce. This further contributes to the playfulness of the cat,
who watches the city like it might watch prey. But the potential danger of the
moment is dissipated by the cat's small size and cuteness. Readers get the image
of a small kitten overestimating itself as it stalks a much bigger target (the city
and harbour).