Dust of Snow

 Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 1 Dust of Snow

Dust of Snow

BY ROBERT FROST

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.

Explanation of poem

The poem is set in a scene where the poet is in a bad mood and is walking by a tree, a hemlock tree. Hemlock tree is a poisonous tree. As he passes by, a crow happens to throw some snow dust on him. Whether it falls on his head or shoulders is unknown as there is no specific mention in the poem. Also, the readers are left in doubt about the bird’s specific action. Whether the crow was landing, shivering with cold, re adjusting itself on the branch or taking off, it happened to send some particles of snow upon the author. Here, the two agents of nature, the hemlock tree and the crow are signifiers of sadness and gloom just like the poet’s mood was in the opening scene

Value Points of the Poem

1. It is a winter’s day.

2. The treetops were covered with masses of snowflakes.

3. The poet was walking under one such snow covered tree.

4. This tree was a hemlock tree, a conifer associated with poisonous qualities.

5. A crow alighted on the hemlock tree suddenly.

6. The sudden movement of the crow, the mass of snowflakes started falling down the tree.

7. The snowflakes fell down upon the poet who was standing under the tree.

8. The mass of snowflakes was so light and find that it looked like the dust of white snow.

9. The sudden movement and arrival of the crow and the falling of the flakes of snow look like just ordinary happenings.

10. But the falling of fine snowflakes on the poet leaves a tremendous effect on him.

11. Before this, the poet was in a gloomy or despairing mood.

12. However, this simple beautiful act of nature has a very comforting effect on him.

13. The fall of snow over him changes his mood and mental state.

14. It gladdens his heart.

15. Before this incident, that particular day was not going too well for him.

16. He had decided in his mind that day would go waste.

17. However, the fall of snowflakes on him makes him realise that the whole day has not been wasted.

18. At least, this part of the day when he is enjoying the snowflakes has been saved.

19. At least, some part of the day has been pleasant.

20. If he had not experienced such a pleasant experience, he would have regretted at the wastage of the whole day.

Poetic Devices

Rhyme Scheme: abab

Imagery:  like a crow scattering snow from hemlock tree, and ‘dust of snow’ falling on the poet to depict the positive effect of nature on the poet.

Alliteration: 

• Has given my heart

• And saved some part

               Symbolism:- Crow and hemlock tree. show the emotions like dejection, gloom and     depression.

Question 1.

What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed?

Answer:

The ‘dust of snow’ means the fine particles or flakes of snow. The sudden shower in the form of the dust of snow changed the poet’s mood. The poet’s mood changed from sad to happy. He felt refreshed and wanted to enjoy the rest of the day.

Question 2.

How does Frost present nature in this poem? The following questions may help you to think of an answer.

21. What are the birds that are usually named in poems? Do you think crow is often mentioned in poems? What images come to your mind when you think of a crow?

22. Again, what is ‘a hemlock tree’? Why doesn’t the poet write about more ‘beautiful’ tree such as a maple, or an oak, or a pine?

23. 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:

Frost presents nature in a very different manner in the poem,

1. Generally, poets take the birds and trees which are known for their beauty and good qualities like peacock, parrot, cuckoo, mynah and trees full of beautiful flowers and fruits, etc. But here Frost has taken a totally different approach. He chose a crow, which is not often used in poems. Crow is black in colour with very harsh voice and is believed to be a symbol of bad omen. Thinking of a crow brings very depressing and sorrowful pictures to our mind.

2. A hemlock tree is poisonous plant with small white flowers. The poet, Robert Frost, didn’t choose to use an oak, maple or pine tree. Instead, he chose the hemlock tree and left all the beautiful trees present in the world. Actually he did so to present his mood and feelings.

3. The crow and hemlock tree represent sorrow and depression felt by the poet in this materialistic world. The dust of snow is the symbol of natural joy and energy. The dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree means passing through the sad and depressing moments the pdet is entering into the time full of joy and optimism.

4. Read the extract and answer the following

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.

i) Before the incident, the poet was __________

a.Excited

b.Happy

c.Sad

d.not mentioned

A.c

ii) Which word in the extract indicates his initial mood?

a.shook

b.dust

c.heart

d.rued

A.d

iii) What does the change of mood indicate?

A.It indicates that a crow and a hemlock tree can be good and auspicious.

5.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.

6. 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.

7.The Crow’ and the ‘hemlock tree’ are generally considered to be inauspicious and ominous symbols. Does the poet use them so?

Ans. ‘The Crow’ and ‘the hemlock tree’, no doubt, don’t represent cheerfulness or brightness. Both of them are generally considered to be inauspicious. But ‘the crow’ in the poem causes the dust of snowfall on the poet. This leads to the sudden change of mood in the poet. The feeling of cheerfulness replaces the feeling of regret. Similarly, the hemlock tree is the tree under which the poet is standing and experiencing the change of his mood.