Dust of Snow - Poem

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NCERT Class 10 English Chapter 1 Poem – Dust of Snow

In Robert Frost's poem "Dust of Snow," a crow shakes snow off a hemlock tree onto the speaker, who had been feeling sad and negative. This small event changes the speaker's mood, making him realize the beauty of life and the importance of persevering. The crow usually symbolizes sadness and death. But in this poem, it becomes a symbol of hope and inspiration. The speaker acknowledges that this simple act of nature has saved part of his day, which he had been regretting. The poem highlights how even small things can have a big impact on our outlook on life.

Thinking about the Poem (Page 14)

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

The ‘dust of snow’ refers to the snowflakes and its fine particles. The poet’s mood changed due to the sudden shower of snowflakes. He was dismayed earlier, but it changed to a happy and joyful mood as he felt refreshed and energized to enjoy the rest of the day.

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?

Poets usually write about pretty birds and colourful trees to show beauty and good things. But in this poem, Frost talks about a crow, which is not usually in poems. Crows are black birds with loud voices and are thought to bring bad luck. So, when the poem mentions a crow, it makes us feel worried and sad.

(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?

In the poem, Frost talks about "a hemlock tree," which is a plant with small white flowers and is poisonous. Instead of using trees like maple or oak that represent beauty and happiness, he chose the hemlock tree to show his sadness and regret. This choice tells us that he's feeling down and full of regret.

(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?

The "crow" and "hemlock" tree represent sadness and gloominess felt by the poet. However, the "dust of snow" symbolizes a feeling of natural joy and energy within him. When the crow shakes off the dust of snow from the hemlock tree, it signifies the poet's transition from sad and depressing moments to a more joyful and optimistic feeling.

3. Have there been times when you felt depressed or hopeless? Have you experienced a similar moment that changed your mood that day?

There were many times when I felt really sad and hopeless because of things happening in my life. Sometimes, it was because of how people treated me, and other times it was because of things I did. One day, after a tough day at school, I came home feeling upset. But when my cat greeted me with love and excitement, it totally changed my mood! Playing and cuddling with my pussy made me happy for the rest of the day.