SUBJECT: ENGLISH (Study Material)

STD: - X Topic: Poem-I Dust Of Snow

(Book 1 The First Flight - Poem-I Dust Of Snow)

ABOUT THE POET:
Robert Frost was a famous American poet. He was born in San Francisco
on March 26, 1874. His father belonged to New England, and his mother
was a Scottish emigrant from Edinburgh. By 1920s, Frost was the most
celebrated poet in America. His poetical works' A Boy's Will' (1 91 3),
'North of Boston' (1 91 4), New Hampshire' (1 923), 'A Further Range'
(1936) 'Steeple Bush' (1947) and 'In the Clearing' (1962) increased his
fame and honour. The poem 'Dust of Snow' was published in 'New
Hampshire' in 1923. This collection gave him the Pulitzer Prize.
INTRODUCTION OF THE POEM:
Robert Frost, a well known American poet of nature, in this poem
presents a moment that seems simple but has a larger
significance. It is a highly symbolic poem. One day the poet was in
a depressed mood. A pleasant thing happened in a tree. It
changed the poet's mood. It saved the rest of the day for the poet.
POEM:
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
THEME OF THE POEM
'Dust of Snow' is a small poem written by the famous American
poet, Robert Frost. The poem is set on a wintry day. In the first
stanza, the poet describes a simple natural happening. The snow
is falling heavily. The snowy flakes have covered the top of the
trees. The poet is standing under a hemlock tree. The movement
and alighting of a crow on that tree, make the dust of snowfall
on the poet.
The crow, a symbol of ill omen and the hemlock tree,
associated with a person, is not auspicious things. However, in
the second stanza, the falling of snowflakes and the scene leave
a tremendous effect on the mental state and mood of the poet.
So far, the day has been quite gloomy and wastage for him. But
this ordinary natural happening suddenly brings the desired
change in his mood. It gladdens his heart. He realises that the
falling of snowflakes on him has saved the day. Now he has no
regret as the whole of the day has not gone waste. The
moments of the snowfall and their effect have saved the day.
They have brought a change in his mood and gladdened and
uplifted his spirits. SUMMARY:
1 .Flakes of Snow: It was a day of winter. It was snowing all around.
A fine dust of snow had covered the tops of the trees. A hemlock
tree was standing there. The top of the hemlock tree was all
covered with the fine dust of snow. The poet was standing under
that hemlock tree.
2. Sudden Arrival of a Crow, Falling of Snow Dust on Poet: A
crow from nowhere came and perched on the top of the tree.
The sudden movement of the crow made the dust of snow fall
down. The flakes of snow fell on the poet who was standing
under that tree.
3. Simple Natural Happening: The arrival of a crow and its
sitting on the hemlock tree is just an ordinary happening. There
is nothing great about the incident. On the other hand, the crow
stands for an ill omen and the hemlock the tree is associated
with poison. But these seemingly simple things of nature leave
a deep impact on the mind and mood of the poet.
4. Change in the Mood: This ordinary incident leaves a deep
impact on the poet. So far it has been a very dull and
disappointing day for the poet. The day has not gone well for him.
But the falling of the flakes and dust of snow on him are welcome
signs for the poet. His mood changes for the better and his spirits
are uplifted. Now he realises that the whole day has not gone
waste. Those moments while he is enjoying the fall of snow dust
on him are his happy moments. They lift up his mood and gladden
his heart. Now he realises that at least some part of the day has
been spent happily. In the end, satisfaction replaces regret.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS SOLVED:
1. How has the poet observed nature in the poem 'Dust of SnoW?
Ans. The poet has observed nature as a positive medium of
change for him. The poet had been the sorrowful and depressive
mood in the poem. But then the way a crow shook snow dust off,
it changed his mood. Nature gave him the inspiration to behave
in a positive manner.
2. What is the underlying message for us in our hectic life with
reference to the poem, 'Dust of SnoW?
Ans. In the poem 'Dust of Snow', the poet wants to convey that
sometimes certain moments or actions which are simple have
larger significance. They can change the mood or life of a
person. The way a crow shakes down dust of snow on the poet
inspires and gives him the idea to shake off his depressive
thoughts,
become cheerful and do something useful.

3. What side of nature do 'crow and 'hemlock' represent? Ans.

'Crow' is a black, harsh-voiced bird and 'hemlock' is a tree with
poisonous bitter fruit. Both are not beautiful. They represent the
dark, depressive, sorrowful and bitter side of nature. 4. Why does
the poet use such poetically uncommon bird and tree? What does
it reflect?
Ans. The poet seems to be in a depressive and sorrowful mood.
In such a mood, one cannot think of a sweet and beautiful side of
nature. The harsh, bitter and poisonous images come to his
mind. That is why he uses an uncommon, harsh, ugly crow and
poisonous tree like hemlock.
5. Justify the role of the crow in the poem "Dust of Snow" in
changing the poet's mood.
Ans. I think, 'the way snow dust was shaken off' changed his
mood. Perhaps it gave the poet inspiration/idea to behave in
the same manner—shake off his depressive thoughts and revive
his cheerful mood.
6. What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem? How does
it reflect?
Ans. The sorrowful and depressive mood of the poet is
reflected in the poem. The use of the bird 'crow', which is ugly
and harsh, and hemlock tree, which is a poisonous plant,
reflects the poet's mood.
7. What did the poet think of the day before the dust of snow fell
on him?
Ans. Before the fall of the dust of snow, the poet thought that his
day was ruined. He was in a bad mood. But then t use of snow fell
on him. It signalled something good and joyful. His mood
changed.
8. Write a note on the setting of the poem.
Ans. The poem presents a perfect setting. There are four
elements in the poenm All these four elements match one
another. The snow stands for depression. The hemlock tree is a
symbol of sadness. The crow considered ominous. The poet's
mood was also sad. But suddenly the way in which the crow
shook the hemlock tree and falling off the dust of snow. change
the poet's mood.
QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE:
QI . How did the poet feel before the 'change of mood'?
Q2. Do you think that the poet presents a very bright or cheerful
side of nature in the poem? Give a reasoned answer.
Q3. Describe the scene of falling off the dust of snow. What impact
does it have on the poet?
Q4. 'The Crow' and the 'hemlock tree' are generally considered
to be inauspicious and ominous symbols. Does the poet use
them

Q5. Why does the poet say that he had some part of a day I (he)
had rued'?
Q6. What is the message that Robert Frost wants to convey to the
readers in the poem 'Dust of snow'?