FIRST FLIGHT

Dust of Snow
By Robert Frost

Dust of Snow is only eight lines long and seems to be the simplest of short poems. On the surface the
two stanzas appear to be nothing more than a snapshot of a trivial event concerning a crow, a tree, snow
and a human being.

Yet, as always with Robert Frost, beneath the surface there will develop deeper worlds of meaning and
possibility. As Frost himself wrote:

'It is what is beyond that makes poetry - what is unsaid in any work of art. Its unsaid part is its best part.'

Dust of Snow has as its main themes:

 communication between nature and humans.

Purpose of the poem

The poem is simple

This poem deals with two fundamentals - human complexity and animal simplicity - in such a compact
and symbolic form.

It is accessible - the reader is taken under that same tree to experience the crow and the snow.

Another reason is use of simple, straightforward language.

Analysis of Dust of Snow

There's the speaker, the man, under a tree. It's winter, There's snow on the tree, an evergreen pine called
a hemlock, and a crow which has happened to send some snow dust down on the man.

Whether it falls on to his head or down his neck is unknown because it's not really relevant to the poem.
What is important is the way that crow makes it happen, but once again, the reader is left to imagine the
bird's specific action - whether it be the crow preening, merely shaking, flying off, or landing, or
readjusting its feet on a branch, somehow a light dusting of snow is the result, and it lands on the
speaker.

The actual word is shook, so it could be that the crow is shivering in the snowy tree. For the speaker this
must have come out of the blue; the crow's action caused an unexpected fall of snow dust.

Each line runs into the next - enjambment - so giving the idea of buildup
So the first stanza flows into the second which is the more intimate part of the poem as the speaker
begins to confirm a change of mood. The crow, traditionally given a bad name as a harbinger of doom
and fear, becomes a catalyst for positive change.

The speaker, because of the snow dust falling on him, finds himself partially relieved - his day just got a
whole lot better - the event somehow allowing him to see life from a different angle.

There are two crucial words Frost uses here: rued and saved the former meaning to regret something
which often cannot be undone and the latter meaning to rescue or keep safe.

If the figurative heart changes mood then this is quite a profound shift nevertheless and it illustrates the
power that nature sometimes has over human beings.

The speaker could well have been stressed out over something, gone for a short walk to try and think
things through. Then whilst under the tree...down came the dust of snow to alleviate the symptoms.

MESSAGE

The poem is about the poet’s optimism and his message to the readers about finding something positive
in the negative things. The poem thus gives the message that one should never become hopeless and
sorrowful when he faces a problem. A person can get relief and inspiration even in the worst situation.
Sometimes seemingly insignificant natural events do bring about change. Being outdoors in nature, with
all its unpredictability, can benefit anyone, anywhere at any time.

STRUCTURE, RHYME SCHEME and MOOD

The poem has been divided into two stanzas of 4 lines each.

The rhyme scheme is abab

There is a shift of mood from hopelessness and boredom and despair to bliss and hope. One important
thing worth noticing here is that the whole poem is written in a single sentence. Though the stanza ends
in the 4th line, the sentence has not ended which indicates the continuity of mood.

STANZA 1

The poet says that one day, he was on his way, he was outside going somewhere, roaming aimlessly. It
was winter season. Suddenly a crow either flew out from the hemlock tree or just shook himself,
showering the poet standing beneath the tree with dust of snow.

Here there are three important things which have a significant role to play in the society. First there is a
crow which is black and often considered as the symbol of death, doom and ill- omen. It is winter season
and the crow shivers with cold. The chill indicates doom.

Next the dust of snow is mentioned. Dust reminds one of nothingness. In religious mythology, it is
mentioned that human being is nothing but dust and will mix with dust in the end. So dust again is a
negative symbol and indicates bad luck, doom and ill-omen.

Finally, we have a hemlock tree. Hemlock is a poisonous tree which was once used by Socrates to
commit suicide. Thus hemlock tree is also the symbol of bad-luck or doom.

The poet here cleverly uses all these images to show that his day was quite bad and waste. He was stuck
among ample of ill-omens which would have ruined his remaining day as well. But the stanza ends
leaving the reader in thoughts about the worst which might occur soon as the poet has encountered with
so many bad-omens at the same time.

STANZA 2

In the previous stanza, we had guessed that something bad will happen in the final stanza. But all the
three things (which are the signs of ill-omens) have rather a good effect on the poet. The poet says that
the crow, the dust of snow and the hemlock tree has given a change of mood to his heart.
Ironically, the poet feels good when the dust of snow (which is quite light-weight) falls on him
and he feels that some part of the day which was wasted was saved. He is feeling good now.

CENTRAL IDEA

The central idea of the poem Dust and Snow written by Robert Frost is that one may have the worst day
or time of his life, but a little good thing can make it quite amazing. The crow, the hemlock tree and the
dust are some bad signs that normally make the people believe that something wrong is going to happen.

The poet is already upset. This is why he comes out of his home to wander in the snow. But a crow
shakes and snow falls on him which makes him happy.

The poem gives the message that one should hope for the best even in the worst. Like negative and
negative makes positive in mathematics, similarly, in real life, we can make enjoy in our worst times.

Literary Devices in Dust of Snow

The full rhyme endings are quite straightforward: crow/snow....mood/rued....and tie things up tightly.
Internal rhyme and other devices help bring texture and resonance to certain sounds, as well as
interconnections.

Internal Rhyme and Assonance

Note that way echoes with day and in between come change and saved.

And shook and dust.

Also on/of/hemlock/Of

Alliteration

Has given my heart

And saved some part

Symbolism

Crow, winter, hemlock tree. Explanation is given above. Symbolism is both negative ( stanza 1 and
positive- stanza 2)

Irony

It is ironical that the crow, snow and chilly weather which are symbols of doom and despair should bring
hope and relief to the poet and save a part of his day from being ruined.

Enjambment

The device runs through the poem.

Imagery

It runs through the poem

Synecdoche

‘Heart’ represents the entire mood and even the entire physical reaction which becomes positive.

Inversion
When the structure of the sentence is changed to create rhyme, the poetic license is called inversion. In
stanza 1, inversion has been used

Assonance

Prominence of a vowel sound throughout the line is called Assonance.

In Stanza 1, line 2, ‘shook down on me’, ‘o’ sound is prominent

REFERENCE TO CONTEXT

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

1. What does the word ‘shook’ indicate?

It indicates that the crow is either shivering in cold or has suddenly flown out of the tree, shaking off
snow on the poet standing beneath it.

2. Point out the words that denote negativity in the stanza.

Crow, dust, snow, hemlock

3. How has the poet’s heart changed?

The poet feels hopeful as the dust of snow falls on him.

4. Point out the change of mood in these lines.

The mood shifts from being somber to hopeful and joyous.

5. Bring out the simplicity in the tone of the poet.

The poem ends very simply. The simplicity is what lends it power; the power to change mentality and
mood.

Questions and Answers:

1. What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s
mood changed?
A ‘dust of snow’ means the powder of snow which has been created by the crow when it shook down an
ice laden with snow. The sudden shower in the form of the ‘dust of snow’ has changed the poet’s mood.
The poet’s mood has been changed from depression to joy. He was holding the day in regret when this
dust of snow fell on him and this simple little thing brings him some joy and the poet becomes happy for
the rest of the day.
2. How does Frost present nature in this poem?
Frost is a great nature poet. Here he has used unconventional symbols of nature like the crow, hemlock
tree, winter season and snow. All these are symbols of doom, depression, nothingness.
He has not used happy imagery. The aim was to bring out the mood of the poet and set the tenor of the
poem. These symbols fill the mind of the readers with negative images and they expect some dreadful
happening ahead but the poet has soon turned these negative images into positive ones by saying that
they lifted his mood. He has thus used nature to give the message that everything has its value and blind
belief in anything will only lead to misery and sorrow.
3. What do ‘crow’ and ‘ hemlock’ represent? What does the ‘dust of snow’ that the crow shakes off
a hemlock tree stand for?
The crow and hemlock represent sorrow. It shows that the poet is feeling depressed and hopeless. The
‘dust of snow’ that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stands for joy. This simple incident change the
poet’s mood and he becomes happy for the rest of the day.
4. ‘ And saved some part of the day I had rued.’ Explain
The poet is feeling depressed and hopeless. He is not in a good mood which is effecting the entire day
spoiling it as he can’t find joy in anything in his surroundings because of his mood.
But when the snowflakes fall on him, he becomes hopeful and comes out of his somber mood. This saves
the remaining day from getting spoilt.
6. What is the tone of the poem?
The tone of the poem is light and cheerful. It reflects the change that has already taken place
in the poet’s heart; change from sullen to joyful, somber to cheerful.