CBSE Class 10 English Dust of Snow Assignment Set 02

Short Answer Type Questions
 

Question. What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’ initially ? What images are used by the poet to bring about the effect ? Comment.
Answer: Initially, the poet’s mood in “Dust of Snow” is somber and melancholic. Images of a crow, hemlock tree, and dust of snow evoke a sense of gloom. However, the transformative effect of the snow on the poet’s mood brings about a shift towards a more positive outlook.

Question. It is our attitude towards a situation that makes it positive or negative. Do you agree with it ? Express your views with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’.
Answer: It is quite true our attitude to a situation determines everything, including our state of mind. Optimistic attitude brings us lasting happiness; on the contrary, negative attitude results in worry, tensions, and depression. In the poem Dust of Snow, the poet’s mood was transformed by a nature.

Question. Rationalise what you think the poet was probably doing when the dust of snow fell on him?
Answer: The poet was feeling extremely sad when the dust of snow fell on him. He was lost in his thoughts but the falling of snow changed his mood and attention.

Question. What does the presence of a hemlock tree tell you about the setting of the poem?
Answer: The hemlock tree is a poisonous tree that symbolises a bad omen. Its presence shows that the poem is set in a scene where the poet is in a bad mood.

Question. 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?
Answer: The crow’s droppings might have spoilt the poet’s clothes and hair. It could delay his planned work and trigger his anger toward the crow. He might have to go back to his home to change his clothes.

Question. ‘Dust of Snow’ is one of Frost’s most loved poems. Elaborate why you think this is so.
Answer: The poem describes a very simple happening in easy words. It tells us that sometimes even a small incident may prove to be of a larger significance. If one looks beyond the prejudices, he/she will get to know that nature can heal anything and everything.

Question. The poem evokes a sense of black and white. Justify.
Answer: The poem is set in all white surroundings; everything is covered with snow. Amidst this white surrounding, a black crow appears and does something that clears the blackness from the poet’s mind and heart. Hence, we can say that crow and sorrow depict ‘black’ and snow and the happiness of the poet signify white colour in the poem.

Question. The crow and hemlock are usually used as negative references in literature. How is this different in this poem?
Answer: The poet Robert Frost is trying to break the stereotypes that consider a crow and a hemlock tree inauspicious. The poet has represented nature in quite an unconventional manner. He is trying to emphasise that even a crow and a hemlock tree can bring about positive change in a person’s life.

Question. What is the underlying message for us in our hectic life with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’ ?
                                        Or
What is the central idea of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’ ?
                                        ​​​​​​​Or
What does the poet want to convey through the poem ‘Dust of Snow’ ?
Answer: In the poem ‘Dust of Snow’, the poet wants to convey that sometimes certain moments or actions which are simple have larger significance. They can change the mood of life of a person. The way a crow shakes down dust of snow on the poet inspires and gives him the idea to shake off his depressive thoughts, become cheerful and do something useful.

Question. How has the poet observed nature in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?
Answer: The poet has observed the nature as a positive medium of change for him. The poet had been sorrowful and depressive mood in the poem. But then the way a crow shook snow dust off, it changed his mood. The nature gave him an inspiration to behave in positive manner.

Question. What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem ? How does it reflect ?
Answer: The sorrowful and depressive mood of the poet is reflected in the poem. The use of the bird ‘crow’, which is ugly and harsh, and hemlock tree, which is a poisonous plant, reflect the poet’s mood.
 

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. In the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’, the crow symbolically transforms the narrator’s mood, while in the story, ‘His First Flight’, the baby seagull undergoes a literal transformation as it learns to fly. Analyse how these avian characters play similar or different thematic roles in their respective poem and story.
Answer: In ‘Dust of Snow’, the crow and the baby seagull in ‘His First Flight’, both serve as pivotal symbols of transformation and redemption, in their distinct ways. The crow’s sudden interaction with the speaker in the poem brings about an unexpected change in the narrator’s mood. The simple act of the crow shaking off snow onto the speaker becomes a metaphor for a transformative moment, shifting the narrator from a state of sadness to a renewed appreciation for the beauty of nature. On the other hand, the baby seagull’s literal transformation through flight in the story signifies a rite of passage and growth. World but also gains a newfound sense of confidence and independence, contributing to the overall theme of self-discovery and growth in the narrative. The avian characters, while differing in their modes of impact, share the thematic role of catalyzing positive change, whether through a change in perspective or the achievement of a significant milestone.

Question. Imagine Robert Frost from ‘A Dust of Snow’ met with Lencho from ‘A Letter to God’ and discussed the various ways nature can influence a person’s mood. Create this conversation in not more than 120 words. You may begin this way:
Lencho: As a farmer, my livelihood depends on nature and sometimes nature can be cruel.
Answer: Lencho: As a farmer, my livelihood depends on nature, and sometimes nature can be cruel. Just like that hailstorm that destroyed my crops, it felt like God himself was testing my faith.
Robert Frost: I understand, Lencho. Nature can be both a friend and a foe. Take, for instance, the dust of snow shaken from a hemlock tree. It seems so insignificant, but it changed my entire mood that day. It reminded me that even in the midst of life’s challenges, nature can offer unexpected moments of beauty and solace.
Lencho: Indeed, Mr. Frost, your poem reminds me that nature’s smallest gestures can have a profound impact on our lives. Perhaps God’s response to my letter wasn’t just about the money, but a reminder of His presence in the world around me.
Robert Frost: Nature has its own way of speaking to us, often when we least expect it.

Question. As a crow you feel highly injured by the incorrect perception humans have about your species. Imagine yourself being a crow and write your opinion about this prejudice. Make a case for breaking stereotypes.
Answer: “I am a crow. How hard I try to make people happy with my cawing, humans consider me the bringer of bad luck. They shoo me away whenever I try to befriend them. Once a thief was trying to break into a house. I gathered all my crow friends and started nipping him in his head. It saved the house from burglary. The residents, instead of thanking, blamed the crows for the incident. Humans are getting logical and modernized. So, no species should be incorrectly perceived by them and these stereotypes must be broken now. Enough is enough.”

Question. 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 on the e-zine.
Answer: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
I was standing under the hemlock tree and waiting for my office cab. I was heartbroken due to the sudden death of my father. I loved my father so much that I was unable to accept his demise. Suddenly a crow shook off some snow on me, I looked up angrily and picked up a stone to hit the crow. But, he flew fast and disappeared into the clouds. After his disappearance, a thought came to my mind that everyone has to leave one day. We are mortal. we cannot live here permanent. I consoled my aching heart and diverted my thoughts toward otherworldly matters. I realised that every dark cloud has a silver lining. Our life is a swing of ups and downs, but nature has the power to heal all the sorrow and grief.

Question. Positive attitude in life can make the world a better place to live in. Do you agree or disagree with reference to the poem ‘Dust of Snow’ ? Express your views bringing out the inherent values.
Answer: I completely agree with the statement that positive attitude can make the world a better place to live in Robert Frost, in ‘Dust of Snow’, talks of how an otherwise bad day altered into a not so bad one, due to the action of a crow. It was a seemingly disconnected occurrence that brought about a change of mood in the poet. One lesson that can be learnt from the poet, is to see the brightness amidst the gloom. The crow, the hemlock and the snow are all dark images, and yet, the peot sees the colour of happiness. Another lesson is that life is made up of small joys. It is through them that one can always manage to see positivity in negativity.
 

Extract Based Questions

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
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.

Question. Fill the blank with one word.
The poet was out on the cold snowy day when the dust of snow fell on him and changed his sad _____.
Answer: mood

Question. The poetic device used in the line And saved some part’ is Alliteration.
What effect does the poet wish to create?
(a) Emphasis
(b) Comparison
(c) Humour
(d) Personification
Answer: (a) Emphasis

Question. Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, state the one that Frost drew upon, in all likelihood, for this poem.
Answer: The symbol of healing is one that Frost drew upon, in all likelihood, for this poem.

Question. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines.
Answer: The poet, Robert Frost, uses very simple, everyday and accessible language in the poem and it is through this language that he is able to invoke the strongest of emotions. The poet tells us though his mood at the beginning was sorrowful and despairing, overshadowed by darkness, which is symbolised by the crow, it has changed now to hopeful and devoid of regret, which is symbolised by the snow covered tree. Thus, an in-depth reading of the poem reveals that there’s much more going on in what appears to be simple, straightforward lines.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
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.

Question. Complete the sentence appropriately.
The poet was out on the cold snowy day when the dust of snow fell on him and _____.
Answer: changed his sad mood.

Question. What is ‘dust of snow’?
Answer: The ‘dust of snow’ means the fine particles of snow

Question. The crow and hemlock are usually used as negative references in literature. How is this different in this poem? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: It is true that the crow and the hemlock tree are considered negative images and symbols of bad omen. However, in the poem, they are shown in a positive light. They are shown to bring about a positive change in the poet who was in sorrow and despair.

Question. How does the use of ‘a crow’ and ‘a hemlock tree’ impact this extract?
(a) If forces the beauty of nature
(b) Represents prosperity
(c) Sets a gloomy atmosphere
(d) Tells about happy times
Answer: (c) Sets a gloomy atmosphere

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
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.

Question. Complete the sentence appropriately.
The poet was out on the cold snowy day when the dust of snow fell on him and _____.
Answer: changed his sad mood

Question. The poetic device used in the line ‘And saved some part’ is Alliteration.
What effect does the poet wish to create?
(a) Emphasis
(b) Comparison
(c) Humour
(d) Personification
Answer: (a) Emphasis

Question. Of the many symbols the hemlock tree represents, state the one that Frost drew upon, in all likelihood, for this poem.
Answer: The symbol of healing is one that Frost drew upon, in all likelihood, for this poem.

Question. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines.
Answer: The poet, Robert Frost, uses very simple, everyday and accessible language in the poem and it is through this language that he is able to invoke the strongest of emotions. The poet tells us though his mood at the beginning was sorrowful and despairing, overshadowed by darkness, which is symbolised by the crow, it has changed now to hopeful and devoid of regret, which is symbolised by the snow covered tree. Thus, an in-depth reading of the poem reveals that there’s much more going on in what appears to be simple, straightforward lines.