“The Fog” by Carl Sandburg: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

“The Fog” by Carl Sandburg, first appeared in 1916 in his collection, Chicago Poems, is an evocative poem that captures the quiet, mysterious arrival of fog into a harbor town. With vivid imagery and a distinctive free verse style, Sandburg likens the fog to a cat, emphasizing its silent, stealthy movement and watchful presence. The poem’s brevity and simplicity contribute to its lasting impact, leaving the reader with a sense of wonder at the natural world’s subtle power and beauty.

Text: “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Annotations: “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

Line	Annotation
The fog comes	The poem begins with the arrival of fog, symbolizing an unexpected and quiet presence. It sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
on little cat feet.	The fog is compared to a cat, suggesting that it moves softly and stealthily, much like a cat’s quiet and almost imperceptible movements.
It sits looking	The fog is personified, as if it is alive, sitting and observing its surroundings, giving it a sense of consciousness or intention.
over harbor and city	The fog covers both natural (harbor) and human-made (city) environments, indicating its widespread influence and reach.
on silent haunches	The fog is described as sitting silently, like a cat crouching on its haunches. This emphasizes the quiet, calm, and almost eerie nature of the fog.
and then moves on.	The fog leaves as quietly and unnoticeably as it arrived, continuing the metaphor of a cat that comes and goes without drawing attention to itself.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

Poetic Device	Definition	Example from Poem	Explanation
Metaphor	A direct comparison between two unlike things, suggesting a similarity.	“The fog comes / on little cat feet.”	The fog is compared to a cat, highlighting its quiet, stealthy movement.
Personification	Giving human qualities to an inanimate object or abstract idea.	“It sits looking / over harbor and city”	The fog is given the human ability to sit and look, creating a sense of watchful presence.
Imagery	The use of vivid and descriptive language to create mental pictures.	“on silent haunches”	The image of the fog resting on its “haunches” adds to the sense of its quiet, animal-like presence.
Enjambment	The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next.	“It sits looking / over harbor and city”	Creates a sense of fluidity and movement, mirroring the gradual arrival and departure of the fog.
Free Verse	Poetry that does not follow a regular rhyme scheme or metrical pattern.	The entire poem	The lack of formal structure reflects the natural and unpredictable movement of the fog.

Themes: “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

1. The Power of Nature: Sandburg masterfully illustrates the quiet yet undeniable force of nature through the imagery of the fog. “The fog comes / on little cat feet,” suggesting a gentle, almost unnoticeable arrival. Yet, it soon establishes a commanding presence, “sits looking / over harbor and city.” This juxtaposition highlights nature’s ability to assert itself without grand displays of power. It is a subtle reminder of the natural world’s vastness and our place within it.
2. Transience and Change: The poem subtly captures the ephemeral nature of existence. The fog’s arrival and departure are swift and silent. “and then moves on” These simple words encapsulate the fleeting quality of moments and experiences. Like the fog, things in life come and go, often without warning. Sandburg encourages us to appreciate the present moment, recognizing its temporary beauty.
3. Observation and Mystery: The poem invites contemplation and a sense of wonder. The fog’s silent observation of the “harbor and city” evokes a sense of mystery. It watches, seemingly impassive, and then continues on its journey. This image encourages the reader to adopt a similar stance of observation, recognizing the beauty and enigma that surrounds us. It underscores the idea that not everything needs to be understood or explained; sometimes, simply observing and appreciating is enough.

Literary Theories and “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

Literary Theory	Application to “The Fog”	Reference from the Poem
Imagism	Imagism focuses on clear, sharp language and precise imagery. “The Fog” is a prime example of Imagism, as it paints a vivid picture of fog through concise, direct language.	The entire poem is an embodiment of Imagism. The line “on little cat feet” is a precise and vivid image that evokes the quiet, subtle arrival of the fog.
Symbolism	The poem can be interpreted symbolically, where the fog represents something transient, elusive, and perhaps mystical or foreboding.	“The fog comes on little cat feet.” The fog symbolizes something that arrives quietly and without warning, potentially representing uncertainty or change.
Modernism	Modernist literature often explores themes of alienation, ambiguity, and the breakdown of traditional structures. “The Fog,” with its sparse language and focus on the ordinary yet mysterious presence of fog, aligns with Modernist themes.	“It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches.” This line reflects the Modernist tendency to find significance in the mundane, capturing a moment of quiet observation that hints at deeper meaning or existential reflection.

Critical Questions about “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

• What is the significance of the fog being compared to a cat?
• The comparison of the fog to a cat in the poem (“on little cat feet”) is a central metaphor that invites readers to consider the characteristics of both fog and cats. This metaphor suggests a quiet, stealthy approach, highlighting the subtlety and grace with which fog appears in the environment. The choice of a cat, an animal often associated with independence and mystery, may also imply that the fog, like a cat, is uncontrollable and unpredictable. The fog’s behavior—sitting silently and moving on without a trace—mirrors the elusive nature of a cat, leading to a deeper understanding of the transient and fleeting qualities of natural phenomena.
• How does the poem reflect the themes of transience and impermanence?
• “The Fog” captures the fleeting nature of fog, emphasizing themes of transience and impermanence through its brief and concise structure. The poem’s description of the fog arriving quietly (“The fog comes on little cat feet”), sitting momentarily, and then moving on without lingering reflects the temporary nature of both the fog and, metaphorically, life’s moments. The fog’s silent departure serves as a reminder of the inevitability of change and the passing of time, inviting readers to reflect on the transient aspects of existence.
• What role does the setting play in shaping the poem’s mood?
• The setting of “The Fog,” described as “over harbor and city,” plays a crucial role in establishing the mood of the poem. The harbor and city, often bustling with activity, are temporarily subdued by the presence of the fog, which envelops them in silence. This juxtaposition between the usual liveliness of the setting and the quietness imposed by the fog creates a mood of calm introspection. The fog’s ability to alter the atmosphere of these locations underscores its power to influence not just the physical environment, but also the emotional tone, casting a contemplative, almost melancholic, shadow over the scene.
• What can “The Fog” suggest about the relationship between nature and human environments?
• “The Fog” subtly explores the relationship between nature and human-made environments by showing how the fog interacts with both the harbor and the city. The fog’s movement across these spaces (“It sits looking over harbor and city”) suggests that nature is indifferent to the boundaries between the natural world and human constructions. The fog’s quiet presence in these areas highlights the idea that nature is an ever-present force that can infiltrate and alter human environments without notice. This relationship reflects the broader theme of nature’s dominance and its ability to remind humanity of its persistent influence, despite human efforts to control or define it.

Literary Works Similar to “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

1. “April Rain Song” by Langston Hughes: This poem, much like “The Fog,” employs vivid imagery and personification to portray the arrival of rain, emphasizing its gentle, transformative power.
2. “The Waking” by Theodore Roethke: This poem explores the cyclical nature of life and the acceptance of change, echoing the transient theme found in “The Fog.”
3. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost: Similar to Sandburg’s work, Frost’s poem captures a quiet, contemplative moment in nature, inviting reflection on the mysteries of the world.
4. “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams: This minimalist poem, reminiscent of “The Fog,” highlights the beauty and significance found in seemingly ordinary objects and moments.
5. “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman: While addressing a different subject (the death of Abraham Lincoln), Whitman’s poem shares similarities with “The Fog” in its use of extended metaphor and its focus on the powerful impact of a seemingly silent presence.

Suggested Readings: “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

1. Monroe, Harriet. “Carl Sandburg.” Poetry, vol. 24, no. 6, 1924, pp. 320–26. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20574746. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.
2. Cherwitz, Richard A., and Thomas J. Darwin. “Toward a Relational Theory of Meaning.” Philosophy & Rhetoric, vol. 28, no. 1, 1995, pp. 17–29. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40237835. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.
3. Eberhart, Richard, et al. “Making Poetry a Continuum: Selected Correspondence.” The Georgia Review, vol. 37, no. 3, 1983, pp. 533–64. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41398555. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.
4. Harney, Irene. “Prose, Poetry: A Comparison.” Elementary English, vol. 39, no. 8, 1962, pp. 794–98. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41385381. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.
5. Harney, Irene. “Prose, Poetry: A Comparison.” Elementary English, vol. 39, no. 8, 1962, pp. 794–98. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41385381. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.

Representative Quotations of “The Fog” by Carl Sandburg

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“The fog comes”	The opening line of the poem, introducing the fog as an unexpected, natural phenomenon.	Imagism: The simplicity and clarity of the image are key.
“on little cat feet.”	This line develops the metaphor, comparing the fog’s quiet arrival to a cat’s stealthy steps.	Symbolism: The cat symbolizes subtlety and mystery.
“It sits looking”	The fog is personified, as if it has the ability to observe its surroundings.	Personification: Assigns human qualities to nature.
“over harbor and city”	The fog envelops both natural and human-made environments, indicating its wide reach.	Ecocriticism: Highlights the interaction between nature and urban spaces.
“and then moves on.”	The fog leaves as quietly as it arrived, emphasizing the transient nature of both fog and life.	Modernism: Reflects themes of impermanence and change.