Fog Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. Why do you think Sandburg chose to begin his poem with a metaphor rather than a simile? What's the difference?
  2. How does all of the enjambment contribute to the movement of the poem (and fog)?
  3. How does fog move in a catlike way? Why is the imagery of a cat's movements so important to the poem?
  4. How do we know that some time has passed after Lines 1 and 2? What kinds of words does the speaker use to indicate this passage of time?
  5. How does the repetition of the word "on" contribute to the metaphor of a cat-fog?