NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem – Fog

Thinking about the Poem

Question 1.

(i) What does Sandburg think the fog is like?

(ii) How does the fog come?

(iii) What does ‘it’ in the third line refer to?

(iv) Does the poet actually say that the fog is like a cat? Find three things that tell us that the fog is like a cat.

Ans: (i) Sandburg compares the fog to a cat.

(ii) Like a cat on its little feet, the fog enters silently.

(iii) “It” refers to fog.

(iv) The poet compares the fog to a cat using a metaphor, but he does not say that the fog is like a cat.

There are three ways to know that the fog is similar to a cat:

It arrives silently, like a cat sneaking in on its small feet.
It has a cat appearance.
Like a cat, it sits on its haunches.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem – Fog

Question 2. You know that a metaphor compares two things by transferring a feature of one thing to the other (See Unit 1).

(i) Find metaphors for the following words and complete the table below. Also, try to say how they are alike. The first is done for you.

Storm	tiger	pounces over the fields, growls
Train
Fire
School
Home

(ii) Think about a storm. Try to visualise the force of the storm, hear the sound of the storm, feel the power of the storm and the sudden calm that happens afterwards. Write a poem about the storm comparing it with an animal.

Ans:

(i)

Storm	tiger	pounces over the fields, growls
Train	Snake	Long rope-like body
Fire	Sun	Symbol of power
School	Temple	Teaches moral values, virtues
Home	Shelter	Safety, warmth

(ii) Poem about a Storm:

The storm comes roaring like a bold lion,

With thunderous steps, fierce and cold.

Its howling winds shake the ground,

Lightning flashes all around.

Raindrops drum on the earth,

Pounding hard, ruling the storm’s domain.

But as quickly as it came, it stopped its fight,

Leaving behind a peaceful, quiet night.

The storm, fierce and wild like a lion,

Shows nature’s power, strong and untamed.

After its fury, calm settles in,

As quiet as a cat, the storm comes to an end.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem – Fog

Question 3. Does this poem have a rhyme scheme? Poetry that does not have an obvious rhythm or rhyme is called ‘free verse’.

Ans: Yes, the poem “Fog” by Carl Sandburg does have a rhyme scheme. It follows an AABB rhyme scheme in each stanza:

The fog comes (A)

on little cat feet. (A)

It sits looking (B)

over harbour and city (B)

This structured pattern of rhyming lines indicates that the poem does not belong to the category of ‘free verse,’ which is poetry without a regular rhyme or meter.