Dust of Snow

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What made the poet change his mood?

Answer

A crow on the hemlock tree shook down the dust of snow on the poet. The falling dust of
snow on the poet has changed his mood.

Question 2. In what mood was the poet before falling of snow on him

Answer

He was in an unpleasant mood.

Question 3. How did the dust of snow affect the poet?

Answer

It changed the poet’s mood.

Question 4. Where was the crow sitting?

Answer

The crow was sitting in a hemlock tree.

Question 5. What type of plant is ‘a hemlock tree’?

Answer

It is a poisonous plant with small white flowers.

Question 6. Who is the poet of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?

Answer
The poet of this poem is ‘Robert Frost’.

Question 7. What fell on the poet from the hemlock tree?

Answer

Dust of snow fell on the poet from the hemlock tree.

Question 8. What did the poet think of the day before the fall of the dust of snow on
him?

Answer

The poet thought unhappiness of the day before the fall of the dust of snow on him. But after
the incident, he started to look at the surroundings.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Where was the poet and what happened to him?

Answer

There was snow everywhere. The poet was under a hemlock tree. The tree was covered with
snow Suddenly a crow shook the tree The dust of snow fell on the poet. It changed his mood.

Question 2. What is a “Dust of Snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood?
How has the poet’s mood changed?

Answer

A ‘Dust of Snow” means the fine particles of snow. This ‘Dust of Snow” changed the poet’s
mood. The poet’s mood changed from that of dismay to joy. He was holding the day in regret
when this dust of snow fell on him and this simple little thing brought him some joy.

Question 3. How has the poet observed nature in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’

Answer
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.

Question 4. The poet was sad and depressed. But one comical incident lifts his spirits.
He is full of joy and happiness again. Based on your reading of the poem, write a
paragraph on the topic – Happiness is relative.

Answer

No one is always happy. It is just a passing phase of one’s life. It varies from time to time and
place to place. It depends on certain people who you are close to. There are times when we
are extremely happy or sorrowful. In most circumstances, our happiness is decided l>y
certain moments in our life. Some light moments can really enliven our mood. The actions of
our friends can make us happy or sometimes sorrowful. We must also realize that on every
cloud there is a silver lining. This means that every sorrowful moment is followed by a period
of joy and happiness.

Question 5. What is the message that Robert Frost wants to convey to the readers in the
poem ‘Dust of snow’?

Answer

Robert Frost gives quite a positive message to the readers. Depression and hopelessness do
cloud our hearts, spirits and moods. However, there is a silver-lining beyond every cloud. The
poet had given up all hopes and declared that the whole day would go waste. Suddenly, the
falling of fine dust of snow on him brings a sudden change in his mood. Cheerfulness
replaces the feeling of regret.

Question 6. How did the crow change the poet’s mood?

Answer

The poet was going somewhere in a snowy morning. He was upset. All the trees were
covered with snow dust. A crow sitting on a hemlock tree shook the tree in such a way that
some dust of snow fell on the poet. This changed his mood and he became happy and relaxed.

Question 7. What side of nature do ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent?

Answer
‘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.

Question 8. Why does the poet feel that he has saved some part of the day?

Answer

Crow shook down the dust of snow on the poet. Both crow and hemlock tree are considered
inauspicious. The falling of dust of snow from hemlock tree is bad omen. But the poet took it
in a positive way. He found himself relieved from sorrow after this incident. Now he could
use his entire day in a fruitful way.

Question 9. What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem? How does it reflect?

Answer

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.

Question 10. What do the ‘Hemlock’ tree and ‘Crow’ represent? What does the dust of
snow metaphorically stand for ?

Answer

The poet was going somewhere in a snowy morning. He was upset. All the trees were
covered with snow dust. A crow sitting on a hemlock tree shook the tree in such a way that
some dust of snow fell on the poet. This changed his mood and he became happy and relaxed.

Question 11. How did the poet feel before the ‘change of mood’? Why did he feel so?

Answer

The poet was in a very depressed and hopeless mood. The day offered no relief, comfort or
happiness for the poet. He felt that the whole day had been wasted for nothing. Perhaps his
dull and depressive mood led him to such a conclusion.

Question 12. What was the reaction of the poet when the dust of snow fell on him?

Answer
Normally, people thought both crow and hemlock tree are auspicious. But when the dust of
snow from hemlock tree fell on poet, he took it in other way. He was depressed and sorrowful
but the moment the crow shook the hemlock tree and dust of snow fell on him, he felt
unburdened and relieved.

Question 13. How does the poet react to crow and hemlock tree?

Answer

Crow and hemlock tree are considered inauspicious in the west. They are generally taken /is
bad omen. But the poet did not take them in negative way. They saved his day. His negative
outlook changed to the positive one.

Question 14. Why does the poet say that he had `saved some part of a day I (he) had
rued’?

Answer

The whole day had been rather gloomy, dull and hopeless. The poet had a feeling that the
whole day would go waste. However, the falling of fine dust of snow on him suddenly
changes his mood. It cheered his depressed spirits. He felt as if he had saved some part of the
day.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. How does Frost present nature in this poem? The following questions may
help you to think of an answer.
(i) What are the birds that are usually named in poems? Do you think a crow is often
mentioned in poems? What images come to your mind when you think of a crow?
(ii) Again, what is “a hemlock tree”? Why doesn’t the poet write about a more
‘beautiful’ tree such as
a maple, or an oak, or a pine?
(iii) What do the ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent—joy or sorrow? What does the dust of
snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for?

Answer

(i) Robert Frost has represented nature in quite an unconventional manner. While in other
nature poems we come across birds such as nightingales or sparrows, Frost has used a crow
in this poem. A crow can be associated with something dark, black, and foreboding. That is
why, other poets usually mention singing nightingales or beautiful white doves in their
poems.
(ii) The poet has written about a hemlock tree, which is a poisonous tree. He has not written
about a more beautiful tree such as a maple, an oak or a pine tree because these trees
symbolize beauty and happiness. Robert Frost wanted to symbolize the feelings of sadness
and regret, which is why he has used a hemlock tree.

(iii) The crow and the hemlock tree represent sorrow. The dust of snow that is shaken off the
hemlock tree by the crow stands for joy that Robert Frost experiences. He has, therefore, used
an unconventional tree and bird in order to contrast them with joy in the form of snow.

Question 2. Our attitude towards a situation evokes both negative and positive response.
Analyze this with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’ to bring out the inherent
valuable lessons.

Answer

Whatever situation life throws at us, it evokes both positive and negative responses. The poet,
in the poem ‘Dust of Snow,’ was in a sorrowful mood. However, when a crow shook down
the ‘dust of snow’ on him, his bitter mood changed into a more optimistic one. Now, being in
a sorrowful or bad mood already, the poet could have got angry at the crow also. However,
the dust of snow becomes a positive medium of change for him. It made him cheerful to some
extent and helped him forget his sadness, at least for a few moments. Thus, we see that
instead of seeing the negative aspect of a happening, one should see the positive aspect, and
one’s response may greatly affect the outcome of incidents.

Question 3. Simple moment proves to be very significant and saves rest of the day of
poet from being wasted. Explain on the basis of the poem ‘Dust of Snow”.

Answer

‘Dust of Snow’ is a beautiful poem written by Robert Frost. This poem conveys that even a
simple moment has a large significance. The poet mentioned crow and hemlock tree in this
poem. Crow signifies his depressive and sorrowful mood and hemlock tree is a poisonous
tree. Both these signify that the poet was not in a good mood and so he describes the dark,
depressive and bitter side of nature to present his similar mood.

The poet says that once he was in a sad, depressive mood and was sitting under a hemlock
tree. A crow, sitting on the same tree, shook off the dust of snow, small particles of snow that
remained on the surface after the snowfall, on the poet. This simple action changed the poet’s
mood. He realised that he had just wasted a part of his day repenting and being lost in sorrow.
But the change in his mood made him realise that he should utilize the rest of the day in some
useful activity. His sorrow was washed away by the light shower of dust of snow. His spirit
was revived and he got ready to utilize the rest of the day.
Question 4. Poets have great power of imagination. Robert Frost also explains his
imagination very well and proves that sometimes the bad symbols change into a boon.
Discuss.

Answer

It is well known that poets have great imaginative power. On the basis of this power, the poet
gives this world a new idea and pleasure. They do dip down into the ocean of imagination
and carry valuable things. Then they present before the world an exotic moment. Robert
Frost, in this poem, represents the crow and hemlock tree as inauspicious. But when the crow
shakes off the dust of snow from the hemlock tree, it falls on the poet. It changes his dejected
mood and saves the day from being spoilt.

Question 5. The poet has succeeded in giving valuable information in a light-hearted

manner. What creates the desired effect? Highlight its importance in present-day life.

Answer

Truly, Frost has used simple language to drive home a very significant message, that little
thing sometimes, have a big impact. An easy, uncomplicated language, coupled with unusual
visual imagery and brevity of words creates the desired effect. The poet’s bitterness finds
reflection even in the environment around him. The noisy, dark crow, the poisonous hemlock
and the icy snow around—all are essentially depressing images. However, despite the
negativity, when the crow shakes down the dust of snow onto the poet, it also shakes off
some of the author’s regretful thoughts. Today, when all of us live in stressful atmospheres,
the poem teaches us to gain happiness from little things.

Question 6. Positive attitude in life can make the world a better place to live in. Do you
agree or disagree with reference to the poem ‘Dust of Snow’? Express your views
bringing out the inherent values.

Answer: I completely agree with the statement that positive attitude can make the world a
better place to live in Robert Frost, in ‘Dust of Snow’, talks of how an otherwise bad day
altered into a not so bad one, due to the action of a crow. It was a seemingly disconnected
occurrence that brought about a change of mood in the poet. One lesson that can be learnt
from the poet, is to see the brightness amidst the gloom. The crow, the hemlock and the snow
are all dark images, and yet, the poet sees the colour of happiness. Another lesson is that life
is made up of small joys. It is through them that one can always manage to see positivity in
negativity.

Question 7. Our attitude towards a situation evokes both negative and positive response.
Analyze this with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’ to bring out the inherent
valuable lessons.

Answer: Whatever situation life throws at us, it evokes both positive and negative responses.
The poet, in the poem ‘Dust of Snow,’ was in a sorrowful mood. However, when a crow
shook down the ‘dust of snow’ on him, his bitter mood changed into a more optimistic one.
Now, being in a sorrowful or bad mood already, the poet could have got angry at the crow
also. However, the dust of snow becomes a positive medium of change for him. It made him
cheerful to some extent and helped him forget his sadness, at least for a few moments. Thus,
we see that instead of seeing the negative aspect of a happening, one should see the positive
aspect, and one’s response may greatly affect the outcome of incidents.

Question 8. The poet has succeeded in giving valuable information in a light-hearted

manner. What creates the desired effect? Highlight its importance in present-day life.

Answer: Truly, Frost has used simple language to drive home a very significant message, that
little thing sometimes, have a big impact. An easy, uncomplicated language, coupled with
unusual visual imagery and brevity of words creates the desired effect. The poet’s bitterness
finds reflection even in the environment around him. The noisy, dark crow, the poisonous
hemlock and the icy snow around—all are essentially depressing images. However, despite
the negativity, when the crow shakes down the dust of snow onto the poet, it also shakes off
some of the author’s regretful thoughts. Today, when all of us live in stressful atmospheres,
the poem teaches us to gain happiness from little things.

Question 9. There are times when we feel depressed and hopeless. We think that things
will never change. Suddenly, a change comes in our mood when cheerfulness replaces
the sense of regret. Justify the above statement in the context of the poem ‘Dust of
Snow’.

Answer: Change is the law of nature. Man’s mood and spirits change like the change of the
weather. In the poem, the poet is in a depressed and hopeless mood. He feels that the whole
of the day has been wasted. But fortunately, this is not so. The falling of the fine dust of snow
on him brings a sudden change in his mood. He realises that all is not lost. There is still hope
for redemption. No doubt, a large part of the day has already been lost. It has been rather a
bad day so far. But no more now. Now a part of the day has been redeemed. The change of
landscape has changed his mood. Cheerfulness had replaced the feeling of regret. His spirits
are no more depressed. The sudden change outside also cheers his heart and mood.

Question 10. Poets have great power of imagination. Robert Frost also explains his
imagination very well and proves that sometimes the bad symbols change into a boon.
Discuss.

Answer: It is well known that poets have great imaginative power. On the basis of this power,
the poet gives this world a new idea and pleasure. They do dip down into the ocean of
imagination and carry valuable things. Then they present before the world an exotic moment.
Robert Frost, in this poem, represents the crow and hemlock tree as inauspicious. But when
the crow shakes off the dust of snow from the hemlock tree, it falls on the poet. It changes his
dejected mood and saves the day from being spoilt.

Question 11. Our mental condition depends on our surroundings and it can be changed
according to it. Explain and prove.
Answer: It is true that our mental condition depends on our surroundings. For example, if we
go to greener places or nearby waterfalls, we get immense pleasure. This poem also describes
it. The poet was sitting under a hemlock tree in a dejected mood, but when a crow shakes this
tree and dust of snow falls on the poet, it changes the poet’s mood. It was a pleasant incident.