Dust of Snow

 

DUST OF SNOW

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Who shook down the hemlock tree?

(A) crow                                              (B) cuckoo

(C) mynah                                           (D) parrot

Ans. (A) a crow

2.  Which tree did the crow shake?

(A) mango                                           (B) mapple

(C) hemlock                                        (D) oak

Ans. (C) hemlock

3. What fell on the poet?

(A) dust of tree                                    (B) dust of snow

(C) dust of rain                                    (D) dust of crow

Ans. (B) dust of snow

4. In what mood was the poet earlier?

(A) happy                                            (B) good

(C) pleasant                                        (D) sad

Ans. (D) sad

5. What was the effect of the fall of the dust of snow on the poet?

(A) changed his mood                        (B) changed his luck

(C) changed his job                             (D) changed his colour

Ans. (A) changed his mood

6. What was saved for the poet?

 (A) crow                                              (B) tree

(C) some part of the day                    (D) snow

Ans. (C) some part of the day

7. Under which tree was the poet standing?

(A) oak                                                            (B) hemlock

(C) maple                                            (D) pine

Ans. (B) hemlock

8. Who is the poet of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?

(A) Robert Frost                                  (B) Robert Browning

(C) William Wordsworth                      (D) John Keats

Ans. (A) Robert Frost

 

COMPREHENSION OF STANZAS

Read the following stanzas and answer the questions that follow :

STANZA 1

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

Questions :

(a) What did the crow do to the hemlock tree?

(b) What was there in the tree at that time?

(c) Where do you think was the poet then?

(d) What is the name of the poem?

(e) What is the name of the poet?

(f) Write the rhyming words.

Answers :

(a) The crow shook the hemlock tree.

 (b) There was snow in the tree at that time.

(c) Then the poet was under a hemlock tree then.

(d) The name of the poem is ‘Dust of Snow’.

 (e) The name of the poet is Robert Frost.

(f) crow – snow me – tree

 

STANZA 2

Has given my heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I had rued.                                     

Questions :

(a) What had given the poet ‘a change of mood’?

(b) What had the poet thought of that day?

(c) How was some part of the day saved for the poet?

(d) Name the poem.

(e) Name the poet.

(f) What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza?

Answers :

(a) The falling of dust of snow on the poet had changed his mood.

(b) He had felt sad about that day. But the fall of snow dust changed his mood.

 (c) He stopped ruing the day and his mood changed.

(d) Dust of Snow.

 (e) Robert Frost.

(f) The rhyme scheme of this stanza is ‘abab’.

 

Stanza-3:

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree.

Questions:

(a) How did the crow come and sit on the tree?

(b) What kind of tree it was?

(c) Where was the poet standing and what happened to him?

(d) Where was the poet sitting?

Answers:

All of a sudden, a crow came from nowhere and sat on the hemlock tree.

 (b) It was a poisonous tree named hemlock.

(c) The poet stood under the hemlock tree where fine dust of snow was falling on him from above.

(d) The poet was sitting under a hemlock tree.

 

Stanza-4:  

Has given my heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I had rued.

Questions:

 (a) Why did the poet’s mood change?

(b) How did the poet feel in the end?

(c) Why did the poet rue earlier?

(d) What does the poet mean when he says that he had saved some part of the day?

( e) What is the meaning of ‘rue’?

Answers:

(a) The sight of the falling of the fine dust of snow cheered the mood of the poet.

 (b) The poet felt happy in the end.

(c) Earlier, the poet felt deeply sad that the whole day had been wasted.

(d) The poet has saved some part of the day as he did not waste the time in repenting and regretting.

(e ) regretting and repenting

 

Extract Based / comprehension test  Questions and Answers of Dust of Snow

 

Read the extract given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:

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.

(a) What do the ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ symbolise?

(b) The mood of the poet changed because___________ . 

(c) What does the poet mean when he says and saved some part of the day?

(d) Who shook the dust of snow?

Or

(a) What is the dust of snow?

(b) What mood of the poet is conveyed in these lines?

(c) What did the crow do to the hemlock tree?

(d) What did the tree have on it then?

Ans. (a) The ‘crow’ and the ‘hemlock’ tree symbolise sorrow or hardships

(b) He saw a crow sitting on a hemlock tree shook off the dust of snow on him. Thus, the falling of dust of snow changed his mood from depressed and gloomy state of mind to delight and happiness.

(c) The poet has saved some part of the day as he did not waste the time in repenting and regretting.

(d) A crow shook the dust of snow.

Or

(a) Dust of snow refers to the small particles of snow that settle on surface after a snowfall.

(b) The poet’s altered mood, one that changes from sorrow to joy is depicted here.

(c) The crow shook the dust of snow from the hemlock tree.

(d) The tree had snow on its leaves and branches.

 

EXTRA QUESTIONS

Q1       Infer the central idea of the poem.

Ans      A simple act of snow falling on the poet changes his mod and saves a great part of the day that he had ruined in that pensive mood. The feeling of loss, helplessness and regret is replaced by the feeling of hope and cheerfulness. The dust of snow falling from the insignificant hemlock tree by the crow had a great impact on the poet. The poem suggests that even the smallest things in nature can bring happiness and positivity in life. We often view life negatively and focus on the hardships and difficulties but we should never let sadness of gloom overpower us and look for hope and joy. The poem also talks about the healing touch of nature.

 

Q2       Why has the poet chosen the hemlock tree and crow instead of some pretty bird or beautiful tree?

Ans      Hemlock tree is poisonous and a crow is considered a bird of ill omen and associated with bad luck. The poet has chosen these as he wants to emphasize the fact that even small, insignificant or irrelevant things can bring hope, happiness and positivity in our lives.

 

Q3       Describe the crow and the hemlock tree.

And     They represent the dark, pensive, sorrowful and bitter side of nature. A crow is associated with bad luck and death and a hemlock tree is poisonous and thus, associated with darkness and death.

 

Q4       What role does nature play in the poem?

Ans      Nature is a positive medium of change in the poem. With its purity, calmness and soothing coolness, the snow calms the poet’s mind and his depression is changed into hope and happiness.

 

Q5       How do you think the poet was feeling before the dust of snow fell on him?

Ans      The poet was in a depressed and pensive mood.

 

Q6       What are the 4 elements in the poem?

Ans      Snow, Hemlock tree, crow and the poet’s mood are the 4 elements in the poem.

 

Q7       What are the possible themes of this poem?

Ans      Hope is one of the themes of the poem. The speaker happily and quickly decides that the day is saved because of the dust of snow that falls on him. He no longer thinks that the day is wasted and instead has the hope that the day can be saved.

Another theme of the poem revolves around the positive perspective. The speaker’s perspective is changed by a small event. The poem implies that we can think positively or negatively about the events depending on our perspective or view.

 

Q8       Nature has the power to lift our mood even when we are highly despondent. Comment on the basis of the poem.

Ans      The poem enlightens us how small thins of nature can refresh us and cheer us for the rest of the day. Crow and Hemlock tree, both associated with ill omen, have been used by Robert Frost to uplift the mood. He has effectively conveyed that a small thing such as the falling of snowflakes from the top of a tree can have a refreshing effect on the mind of man. In other words, nature and its creation have the power to bring peace and solace even when we are in a depressed state of mind. A small incident of snow falling, that too by the action of a crow, takes away the pall of sadness from the poet’s mind and refreshes him for the rest of the day.

 

Q9       Small things in life make significant changes in our life. Elaborate with reference to the poem “Dust of Snow’.

Ans      The poem “Dust of Snow” reiterates that even a small thing in life can make huge changes in our future. It also shows that if we take the hard times of life in our stride, eventually something will happen to change our situation into happier times. A small incident of soft snowflakes falling on the poet changes his melancholy mood into that of happiness. In the same way a small act of kindness on our part can bring happiness and joy into the lives of others. Noticing and appreciating all the small things in life will make our life happier. It will also cause us to have a spirit that is willing to change and therefore, succeed.

 

Q10     in the poem, how does the poet’s mood get changed?

Ans      While standing under the tree, small particles of soft snow fall on the poet. The poet, who had been upset about some prior incident, suddenly feels refreshed and delighted as his mood changes because of this small incident. He realizes that he had just wasted a part of his day repenting and regretting. Rather, he could have utilised the same in doing some productive activity.

 

Q11     Comment on the healing power of nature in light of the poem.

Ans      The short poem throws light on the healing power of nature and small and insignificant things. From a bad mood to ill health, there is nothing that can’t be cured by nature. The author was experiencing one such bad day when a crow’s movement near a hemlock tree dusted snow upon him. This showed that a positive change can take place even through negativity.

 

Q12 Multiple Choice Questions based on Extract

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.

 

(A)   I Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, choose the one that Frost drew upon in all likelihood, for this poem. Symbol of

 a) longevity.

 b) togetherness.

 c) healing.

 d) protection.

Ans           Healing

 

 ii Choose the option that lists the possible feelings of the poet prior to the experience shared in the poem.

1) reassured

2) disappointed

3) curious

 4) demotivated

5) thankful

 6) disheartened

 7) impulsive

 a) 1, 3 &7            b) 2, 4 & 6       c) 5 & 7          d) 1 & 3

Ans           b) 2,4 and 6

 

 

 iii Identify the option that DOES NOT use the word ‘rue’ correctly.

a) The film was a disaster and he rued his decision to act in it.

 b) I am sure she rued the day she listened to a fortune-teller.

c) It wasn’t long before I rued my disobedience and my deceit.

d) Others finally rue the one who is dishonest and heartless.

Ans           d

 

 iv Synecdoche is a poetic device that uses a part to represent the whole. E.g. That’s a great set of wheels! (Set of wheels has been used for car.) Pick an example of synecdoche from the poem.

a) Has given my heart / A change of mood

b) The way a crow/ Shook down on me

c) The dust of snow / From a hemlock tree

d) And saved some part / Of a day I had rued

Ans           a

 

v Choose the option showing the reason NOT corresponding with “… a crow / Shook down on me / The dust of snow”.

 a) The crow’s landing on the branch of the tree.

 b) The shivering of the crow, due to the cold.

 c) The readjustment of position of the crow on the branch.

d) The cawing of the crow hidden in the foliage.

Ans           d

 

SELF ATTEMPT

20-30 words

1       Rationalise what you think the poet was probably doing when the dust of snow fell on him?

2       What does the presence of a hemlock tree tell you about the setting of the poem?

3       The dusting of snow on account of the crow helped make the poet’s day better. How do you think the crow’s droppings might have impacted the poet?

 

30-40 words

4       ‘Dust of Snow’ is one of Frost’s most loved poems. Elaborate why you think this is so.

5       The poem evokes a sense of black and white. Justify.

6       The crow and hemlock are usually used as negative references in literature. How is this different in this poem?

 

100-120 words

7       As a crow you feel highly injured by the incorrect perception humans have about your species. Imagine yourself to be a crow and write your opinion about this prejudice. Make a case for breaking stereotypes.

8        Imagine that Frost is of present day and has been invited to write for an ezine - “Teen Talk”. He chooses to draw upon his experience with the crow and the dusting of snow to share his thoughts on ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’. As Frost, express your thoughts for the e-zine.