First Flight Poem ch09 Fog - CBSE Revision Notes
CBSE Class 10 English Language and Literature
Revision Notes
Chapter 9
Fog (poem)
Revision Notes
Chapter 9
Fog (poem)
• The poem consists of 2 stanzas of variable length. The first stanza is made up of 2 lines. On the other hand, the second stanza is made up of 4 lines. Hence, the entire poem consists of 6 lines in total.
• In this stanza, the poet describes the arrival of the fog towards the city of Chicago. As we know, fog consists of tiny droplets of water suspended in the air. Hence, it is a fluid, and fluids move in a flowing manner. Their movement has no solid manifestation. That is why it seems to the poet that the fog is gliding towards the city.
• He compares this gliding movement to the movement of a cat. This is a very apt comparison Even though a gliding movement is also engaged in by other creatures, for example, the snake, the fog also has a substantial mass that is not present in any of these creatures other than a cat.
• Moreover, a cat is known to move surreptitiously. This is easy for the cat to do since the padding under its paws is very soft and it does not make any noise while the cat is moving. Similarly, the fog is also approaching Chicago silently but surely.
• In this stanza, the poet describes the way in which the fog comes to Chicago only for a while and then it retreats. He continues the comparison of the fog with the cat. He says that like a cat, the fog sits on its haunches for a while and looks over the city of Chicago and its harbour. A cat is generally a very cautious creature and therefore, it cannot sit and relax in one place. Unlike dogs, they never even rest their bodies entirely on any surface, choosing instead to squat on their haunches.
• The fog is also a temporary visitor to Chicago, and that shows very clearly in its movement. It does not settle down anywhere, like dust particles. Instead it only hovers over the city of Chicago. That the fog should naturally move towards a water body such as the Chicago harbour is no mystery, since fog attracts water particles. However, the fog is not there to stay.
• As silently and surreptitiously as it had come, it also leaves Chicago soon enough. Hence, even in its retreat, its movement resembles the movement of a cat. That is why the poet’s use of this extended metaphor is absolutely appropriate to describe the fog he has seen over Chicago.
• In this stanza, the poet describes the arrival of the fog towards the city of Chicago. As we know, fog consists of tiny droplets of water suspended in the air. Hence, it is a fluid, and fluids move in a flowing manner. Their movement has no solid manifestation. That is why it seems to the poet that the fog is gliding towards the city.
• He compares this gliding movement to the movement of a cat. This is a very apt comparison Even though a gliding movement is also engaged in by other creatures, for example, the snake, the fog also has a substantial mass that is not present in any of these creatures other than a cat.
• Moreover, a cat is known to move surreptitiously. This is easy for the cat to do since the padding under its paws is very soft and it does not make any noise while the cat is moving. Similarly, the fog is also approaching Chicago silently but surely.
• In this stanza, the poet describes the way in which the fog comes to Chicago only for a while and then it retreats. He continues the comparison of the fog with the cat. He says that like a cat, the fog sits on its haunches for a while and looks over the city of Chicago and its harbour. A cat is generally a very cautious creature and therefore, it cannot sit and relax in one place. Unlike dogs, they never even rest their bodies entirely on any surface, choosing instead to squat on their haunches.
• The fog is also a temporary visitor to Chicago, and that shows very clearly in its movement. It does not settle down anywhere, like dust particles. Instead it only hovers over the city of Chicago. That the fog should naturally move towards a water body such as the Chicago harbour is no mystery, since fog attracts water particles. However, the fog is not there to stay.
• As silently and surreptitiously as it had come, it also leaves Chicago soon enough. Hence, even in its retreat, its movement resembles the movement of a cat. That is why the poet’s use of this extended metaphor is absolutely appropriate to describe the fog he has seen over Chicago.
