Dust of Snow by Robert Frost: A Brief Analysis
The poem "Dust of Snow" by Robert Frost captures a moment of transformation when a crow shakes off a dusting of snow onto the poet, changing his melancholy mood to joy and prompting a shift in perspective. Frost's vivid imagery and simple yet profound narrative highlight the power of small acts in bringing about significant change in one's outlook on life.
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English Std x Poem-1 Dust of Snow By Robert Frost
About the Poet Born in 1874 in San Francisco, California .One of the most celebrated poet in America. His ideas about social outcasts and love for nature are reflected well in his works .The recurring themes in most of his poems are love ,death , beauty, man and the natural world.
Most Popular Poems The Road Not Taken, Stopping By Woods, On A Snowy Evening, Fire s And Ice
SUMMARY OF THE POEM: Though the poem is very brief ,but it has a significant meaning. This poem stands for guiding a person who has lost all hopes and is very sad. 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 of the dust of snow i.e. ( small particles of snow that remain on the surface after the snowfall), on the poet.
This simple action changed the poets mood .He realized that he had just wasted a part of his day repenting and being lost in sorrow .But the change in his mood made him realize that he should use the rest of the day in some useful activity .His sorrow was washed away by the light shower of snow dust .His spirit was revived and he got ready to utilize the rest of the day.
Stanza 1 The way a crow Shook down on tree The dust of snow From a hemlock tree In this lines the poet is talking about a winter day when all the treetops were covered in masses of snowflakes. The poet is upset and sitting under the Hemlock tree.
Suddenly a crow sitting on the tree shakes the tree and the fine particles of snow from tree falls on the poet. The soft and cold touch of snow changes the mood from sad to happy. Hestarts feeling soothed and fresh. In this way a simple moment proves to be very significant and saves rest of the day of poet from being wasted and held in regret.
The crow and the hemlock tree are associated with bad omens or death and fear .But, Frost a nature lover has presented them very beautifully. They bring cheer to him and are a source of joy. This shower of snow flakes from the hemlock tree is evidently the subject matter of this poem, since it touched the poet in some way.
Stanza Based Questions (i)Where was the crow sitting? (ii)What did the crow do? (iii)Which are the two things in the poem indicate death? (iv)The dust of snow stands for . (v)Where do you think the poet was then? (vi)What is the rhyming scheme of the stanza? (vii) Name the poem and the poet?
Explanation of Stanza 2 Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued In this stanza ,the poet explains to us exactly in which way the shower of snowflakes had an effect on him.
He says that it changed his mood. He had been in a sullen or despairing mood and the snowflakes falling on him gladdened his heart. He had decided that that particular day would go waste . However ,the shower of dust like snow on his shoulder changed his mind.
It made him feel that the day had not been a complete waste. At least some part of that day has been pleasant. This simple incident helped him enjoy the remaining part of the day. He thus became happy as it saved his rest of the day from being wasted and held in regret.
Stanza 2 Questions 1. Why has the poet s mood changed? 2. What had the poet thought of that day? 3. How was some part of the day saved by the poet? 4. What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza?
Glossary: Mood-state of mind Rued-felt sad Way-kind Hemlock tree-a poisonous plant with small white flowers Saved- kept in store
Central Idea of the Poem The poem reiterates that the little things in life can make huge changes in our future. It also shows that if we can take hard times of life in stride, eventually something will happen to change our situation into happier times. The simple things we do for others can make all the difference.
The poet appreciates the beauty of the snow flakes, which changed his mood and saved many precious moments from being wasted away. The crow shakes off the snow dust from the Hemlock tree. The same way one can shake off the sadness from one s heart.
Short questions-30-40 words Short Questions: (i)What does the poet Frost want to convey through the poem Dustof snow? (ii)How does Robert Frost feel when the snow was shaken on him? (iii) And saved some part rued. Explain. of a day, I had
Long Answer Question Our attitude towards a situation evokes both positive and negative response. Analyze this with reference to the poem, Dust of Snow to bring out the inherent valuable lessons.
