As a student of class 10 studying English from the NCERT textbook “First Flight”, you must have come across the poem “Dust of Snow” as part of first chapter. This beautiful poem written by Robert Frost teaches us that even the smallest things in life can bring joy and change our perspective. In this post, we will explore the question answers of this poem and delve deeper into its meaning. So, let’s get started!
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Thinking About the Poem
This poem presents a moment that seems simple, but has a larger significance. [Compare this other quotation from Robert Frost: “Always, always a larger significance… A little thing touches a larger thing.”)
The quoted poem by Robert Frost, “The way a crow”, illustrates how a small moment or event can have a significant impact on a person’s emotional state. The speaker describes how a crow shaking snow off a hemlock tree onto them has changed their mood and saved part of a day they had previously regretted.
This idea is also reflected in Frost’s quote, “Always, always a larger significance… A little thing touches a larger thing.” This suggests that every action, no matter how small, has the potential to affect something larger. In the case of the poem, the crow’s small action of shaking snow leads to a change in the speaker’s mood, which in turn impacts their entire day.
Overall, Frost seems to be emphasizing the idea that we should pay attention to the small moments in life, as they can have a larger impact than we might initially realize.
1. What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed?
Ans. In the poem “Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost, “dust of snow” refers to the small bits of snow that fall from a hemlock tree when a crow lands on its branches and shakes them. The poet says that this event has changed his mood. The small, seemingly insignificant event of the crow shaking the tree and causing the dust of snow to fall has saved some part of the poet’s heart and given him a change of mood. The exact nature of the change in the poet’s mood is not specified in the poem, but we can infer that it has been a positive change, as the poet describes the event as having saved some part of his heart.
Also Read
- Dust of Snow – Summary, Theme & Message
- Dust of Snow – Stanza and Line by Line Explanation
- Dust of Snow – Poetic Devices
- EDust of Snow – Extract Based MCQs/Objective Questions
- Dust of Snow – Extra Question Answers
2. 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?
Ans. In this poem, Frost presents nature as a transformative and redemptive force that has the power to change the poet’s mood and outlook on life. The following points can help in understanding how nature is presented in the poem:
(i) Birds like the nightingale, skylark, and swan are often named in poetry as they are associated with beauty and melody. However, crows are not as commonly mentioned in poetry. Crows are often associated with negative connotations like death, darkness, and ill omens. However, in this poem, Frost presents the crow as a positive force that shakes the dust of snow from the hemlock tree and brings about a change in the poet’s mood.
(ii) Hemlock trees are not typically considered as beautiful trees as they are often associated with poison and death. However, Frost chooses to write about a hemlock tree to emphasize the transformative power of nature. The fact that the crow shakes the dust of snow from a hemlock tree, a tree that is not usually associated with beauty or joy, adds to the impact of the transformative experience.
(iii) The crow and hemlock tree do not represent joy or sorrow in themselves. Rather, they serve as a catalyst for change. The dust of snow that the crow shakes off the hemlock tree stands for the transformative power of nature. The dust of snow, which is a small and seemingly insignificant thing, has the power to change the poet’s mood and save a part of his heart. It represents the small, transformative moments in life that have the power to bring about significant changes in a person’s outlook on life.
3. Have there been times when you felt depressed or hopeless? Have you experienced a similar moment that changed your mood that day?
Ans. It is not a matter me personally. It’s not uncommon for people to experience moments when they feel depressed or hopeless, and sometimes, small moments of joy or positivity can make a significant difference in their mood. It could be something as simple as a kind word from a friend, a beautiful sunset, or even a small act of kindness from a stranger. These moments can remind us of the beauty and goodness in the world and give us hope for the future.