CBSE Class 10 English Dust of Snow Important Questions Set 01

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

(a). 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.
Answer: (c) healing.

(b). 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 and 7
(b) 2, 4 and 6
(c) 5 and 7
(d) 1 and 3
Answer: (b) 2, 4 and 6

(c). 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.
Answer: (d) Others finally rue the one who is dishonest and heartless.

(d). 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
Answer: (a) Has given my heart/A change of mood

(e). 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.
Answer: (d) The cawing of the crow hidden in the foliage.

Extract 2

(a). Fill the blank with one word.
The poet ends the poem on an ______ note.
Answer: optimistic

(b). What was the speaker’s mood when he set out for a walk?
Answer: The poet felt heavy in heart and bogged down by life’s worries.

(c). Which of the following best describes what lifted the speaker’s mood?
(a) The Hemlock tree changed the poet’s mood.
(b) The crow’s call changed the poet’s state of mind.
(c) The shaking off the snow by the crow lifted the poet’s mood.
(d) A gentle snowfall made the poet cheerful.
Answer: (c) The shaking off the snow by the crow lifted the poet’s mood.

(d). Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines in 40 words.
Answer: The poet has used simple language, free verse and enjambment to describe his gloomy state of mind and defeatist attitude. Using everyday objects like the hemlock tree, a crow and a walk in the snow as symbols helps the reader align with his mood and relate to it.

(e). Fill in the blank with one word.
When the speaker says that he has a change of mood, he refers to being ______, as a change of mood.
Answer: happy

(f). The poet uses the word "saved" to describe the effect of the dust of snow on his day. In what ways does this choice of word add depth to the meaning of the poem?
Answer: The word "saved" adds depth to the poem as it reflects how a small, ordinary moment in nature can rescue someone's day from sadness. The falling of snow shows the power of nature's impact on our emotions.

(g). The poem's tone can be described as:
(a) Lighthearted
(b) Contemplative
(c) Ominous
(d) Critical
Answer: (b) Contemplative

(h). Comment on the poet's use of language in these lines.
Answer: The language used in these lines is simple and straight-forward. The words and phrases are easy to understand. The use of simple language in this poem makes the message more accessible to a wider audience and adds to the poem's overall impact.

(i). 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 a car). Pick an example of synecdoche from the poem.
Answer: ‘My heart’ is an example of synecdoche, as the heart stands for the poet himself and his feelings.

(j). What might the phrase “saved some part” suggest in the stanza?
Answer: It suggests that the poet’s day was not entirely wasted; the remaining part of it was rescued from sorrow and became pleasant.

(k). What is the significance of the use of the word ''rued'' to describe the feelings of the poet? How does the word choice contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: ‘Rued’ means regretted. The word shows that the poet was sad and full of regret before the dust of snow fell on him. It sets a gloomy mood at the start, which makes the later change to cheerfulness stand out clearly.

(l). Complete the sentence with an appropriate option. The figure of speech used in the phrase “saved some part” is ______.
(a) Alliteration
(b) Metaphor
(c) Symbolism
(d) Imagery
Answer: (a) Alliteration

(m). What gave the poet ‘a change of mood’?
Answer: The falling of the dust of snow changed the poet’s mood.

(n). What were the poet’s thoughts for that day?
Answer: He initially felt sad about the day but the dust of snow changed his mood.

(o). How was some part of the day saved for the poet?
Answer: He stopped ruing the day and his mood changed.

(p). Write the rhyming words.
Answer: heart – part; mood – rued

(q). Who is the poet of this poem?
(a) W. B. Yeats
(b) T. S. Eliot
(c) Robert Frost
(d) Shakespeare
Answer: (c) Robert Frost

(r). What change does the poet mention here?
(a) change of cloth
(b) change of mood
(c) change of house
(d) none of these
Answer: (b) change of mood

(s). Which word from the extract means ‘held in regret’?
(a) saved
(b) rued
(c) changed
(d) day
Answer: (b) rued

(t). The major part of the day had been spent by the poet in ______.
(a) delight
(b) regret
(c) merriment
(d) meditation
Answer: (b) regret

(u). Who is responsible for the change of poet’s mood?
(a) dust
(b) storm
(c) dust of snow
(d) birds
Answer: (c) dust of snow

(v). What mood of the poet is conveyed in these lines?
Answer: The above lines show that the poet’s mood has changed from being depressed to joyful.

(w). What has been saved in the given lines?
Answer: In the above lines, the poet means to show that he has saved some part of the day as he did not waste his time in repenting and regretting.

Extract 3

(a). Fill in the blank with one word. The crow and hemlock tree have a ______. connotation in the poem.
Answer: negative

(b). Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines.
Answer: The language is simple and conversational. The poet uses short lines, everyday words like ‘crow’, ‘shook’ and ‘hemlock tree’ and a regular rhyme scheme, yet each image carries a deeper symbolic meaning. The single long sentence running through the poem gives it a smooth, quiet flow.

(c). How does the use of the phrase ‘dust of snow’ contribute to the overall mood and tone of the poem?
Answer: The phrase ‘dust of snow’ suggests something light, soft and small. It creates a gentle, refreshing mood and shows how a tiny moment in nature lifts the poet's gloomy tone to a cheerful and hopeful one.

(d). What did the crow do to the hemlock tree?
Answer: The crow shook the hemlock tree.

(e). What was there on the tree?
Answer: There was dust of snow on the tree.

(f). Where was the poet?
Answer: The poet was under the hemlock tree.

(g). Write the rhyme scheme.
Answer: abab

(h). Who shook down the hemlock tree?
(a) crow
(b) cuckoo
(c) mynah
(d) parrot
Answer: (a) crow

(i). What fell on the poet?
(a) Dust of wind
(b) Dust of rain
(c) Dust of storm
(d) Dust of snow
Answer: (d) Dust of snow

(j). The crow and Hemlock tree symbolise ____.
(a) Sorrow
(b) Happiness
(c) Celebration
(d) Death
Answer: (a) Sorrow

(k). What was in the tree that the crow shook?
(a) owl
(b) parrot
(c) snow
(d) rain
Answer: (c) snow

(l). What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanza?
(a) aabb
(b) babb
(c) abba
(d) abab
Answer: (d) abab

Extract 4

(a). From the following options choose the symbol that the dust of snow represents.
(a) longevity
(b) togetherness
(c) healing
(d) protection
Answer: (c) healing

(b). 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 and 7
(b) 2, 4, and 6
(c) 5 and 7
(d) 1 and 3
Answer: (b) 2, 4, and 6

(c). 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 as she listened to a fortune-teller.
(c) It was not long before I rued my disobedience and my deceit.
(d) Others finally rue the one who is dishonest and heartless.
Answer: (d) Others finally rue the one who is dishonest and heartless.

(d). 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
Answer: (a) Has given my heart / A change of mood

(e). 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.
Answer: (d) The cawing of the crow hidden in the foliage.

(f). Where was the crow?
(a) apple tree
(b) mango tree
(c) hemlock tree
(d) orange tree
Answer: (c) hemlock tree

(g). What did it shake on the poet ?
(a) dust of wind
(b) dust of tree
(c) dust
(d) dust of snow
Answer: (d) dust of snow

(h). What does the word, ‘rued’ mean?
(a) delight
(b) in regret
(c) excited
(d) angry
Answer: (b) in regret

(i). What is the poet’s state of mind?
(a) happy
(b) surprised
(c) annoyed
(d) hopeless
Answer: (d) hopeless

(j). What changed the poet’s mood?
(a) dust of wind
(b) dust of snow
(c) dust of the window
(d) dust from the door
Answer: (b) dust of snow

Short Answer Questions

Question 1. What is a ‘dust of snow’? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed?
Answer: Dust of snow is the small particles (flakes) of snow. The flakes of snow dropped by the crow from a hemlock tree changed the poet’s mood. Throughout the day he had been repenting for some loss; now his sad mood changed to a happy one and he could save the rest of the day.

Question 2. How does Frost present Nature in this poem? (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?
Answer: The poet presents nature in a way that is not conventionally appealing: he does not depict the beauty or kindness of nature, but chooses a crow and a poisonous hemlock tree.
(i) Poets usually name birds like the nightingale, cuckoo, skylark or dove. A crow is rarely mentioned in poems; it brings to mind images of darkness, gloom and ill omen.
(ii) A hemlock is a poisonous tree with small white flowers. The poet does not choose a ‘beautiful’ tree because the hemlock suits his gloomy mood and shows that even unattractive things in nature can bring a change for the better.
(iii) The crow and the hemlock represent sorrow. The dust of snow that the crow shakes off the hemlock tree stands for joy, hope and a fresh outlook that lifts the poet’s spirits.

Question 3. Have there been times when you felt depressed or hopeless? Have you experienced a similar moment that changed your mood that day?
Answer: Happiness and sorrow are the two sides of the same coin. Everybody feels happiness and sorrow in different measures. I too had my share of sorrow when I was not selected in the cricket team of my school. I never expected this moment to come in my life. But when my friend informed me that my gymnastics teacher had sent my name for the state level competition, I was overjoyed to know about this good news.

Question 4. What was the reaction of the poet when the dust of snow fell on him?
Answer: Normally, people think that both the crow and the hemlock tree are inauspicious. But when the dust of snow from the hemlock tree fell on the poet, he took it in another way. He was depressed and sorrowful in the beginning of the poem but the moment the crow shook the hemlock tree and the dust of snow fell on him, he felt unburdened and relieved.

Question 5. Why does the poet feel that he has saved some part of the day?
Answer: When the crow shook down the dust of snow on the poet, he felt relieved. Both the crow and the hemlock tree are considered inauspicious. The falling of dust of snow from a hemlock tree is a bad omen. But the poet took it in a positive way. He found himself relieved from sorrow after this incident. Now he could use the rest of his day in a fruitful way.

Question 6. The dusting of snow on account of the crow helped make the poet’s day better. How do you think the crow might have impacted the poet?
Answer: The crow's action might have prompted the poet to pause and appreciate the beauty in small, everyday moments. This could have led to a renewed sense of gratitude for the world around them.

Question 7. What is the significance of using symbols to state the poet’s state of mind at the beginning of the poem?
Answer: The poet has used words like ‘snow’ and ‘hemlock tree’ to symbolise his sad and depressed state of mind. ‘Snow’ is colourless and is often related to barrenness, while ‘hemlock tree’ is poisonous. Both symbols represent the depressed mood of the poet at the beginning of the poem.

Question 8. Comment on the type of imagery found in the lines of the poem.
Answer: The poet has used vivid imagery in the poem "Dust of Snow." The sensory image of a crow shaking down the dust of snow from a hemlock tree allows the readers to visualize the scene clearly. Additionally, the contrast between the dark crow and the white snow adds to the vividness of the imagery.

Question 9. The poem evokes a sense of black and white. Justify.
Answer: The colour ‘black’ is related to depression and a state of despair. In the poem, the poet’s first half of the day was black as he felt sad and gloomy. The colour ‘white’ symbolises peace and calmness. It beautifies the surroundings and soothes a person's mind. The poet’s second half of the day after ‘dust of snow’ fell on him, was peaceful and happy.

Question 10. How does the poet's choice of using crows and hemlock in the poem, rather than birds like the cuckoo or robin and trees like cedar or oak, contribute to its meaning and atmosphere?
Answer: Sorrow is symbolized by the hemlock tree and the crow. The snow dust that the crow shakes off the hemlock tree represents Frost's happiness. Therefore, he has contrasted them with happiness in the form of snow by using an unusual tree and bird.

Question 11. ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’ Comment with reference to the poem.
Answer: In the poem, the crow's action may seem simple, but it has a profound impact. The falling of snow from the hemlock tree symbolizes a small, unexpected moment of beauty. This little event changes the speaker's mood and saves part of a bad day, reminding us that even in difficult times, there can be a positive aspect or a silver lining to hold onto.

Question 12. 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?
Answer: Birds with unique characteristics and qualities are usually named in poems. No, a crow is not usually mentioned in poems. It is because a crow can be associated with darkness and symbolises sorrow. When I think of a crow, images of some bad happenings come to mind.

Question 13. What does a hemlock tree symbolise? Why doesn’t the poet write about a more ‘beautiful’ tree such as a maple, an oak, or a pine?
Answer: The hemlock tree in the poem symbolises something harmful or negative. The poet chose it over other beautiful trees to show that even from the dark or negative aspects of life, something positive can emerge. The hemlock tree depicts the transformative power of nature and how such small moments of nature can create a positive impact in a person's life.

Question 14. 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?
Answer: The ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent sorrow. The snow of dust that the crow shakes off from the hemlock tree stands for joy. Frost has represented nature in a very unconventional manner in this poem. He has expressed his feelings through ‘hemlock tree’ and a crow, which symbolise sorrow.

Question 15. What does the term ‘dust of snow’ symbolize in the poem? According to the poet, what has altered his mood? Describe the change in the poet's mood.
Answer: The ‘dust of snow’ means the fine particles or flakes of snow. The sudden shower in the form of the dust of snow changed the poet’s mood. The poet’s mood changed from sad to happy. He felt refreshed and wanted to enjoy the rest of the day.

Question 16. What are the elements mentioned in the poem?
Answer: The crow and hemlock tree represent sorrow and depression felt by the poet in this materialistic world. The dust of snow is the symbol of natural joy and energy. The dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree means passing through the sad and depressing moments and the poet is entering into the time full of joy and optimism.

Question 17. Comment on the underlying message of the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’. (CBSE 2016)
Answer: The poem's message lies in the transformative power of nature's small moments. The crow's action serves as a metaphor for the unexpected ways in which beauty can enter our lives. It demonstrates how even seemingly insignificant natural events can have a significant impact on our feelings and viewpoints.

Question 18. How has the poet observed ‘nature’ in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’? (CBSE 2011)
Answer: In the poem "Dust of Snow," the poet observed nature through a simple yet impactive encounter. He saw a crow shaking down the dust of snow from a hemlock tree. This observation led him to realise nature's transformative power as this small moment saved a part of his day.

Question 19. How does the poem challenge the notion that moments of transformation must come from grand or extraordinary events?
Answer: The poem shows that transformation can come from a tiny, ordinary event. Just a crow shaking down the dust of snow from a hemlock tree changes the poet’s mood and saves the rest of his day. No grand event is needed; small, unnoticed moments in nature can bring a big change in our feelings.

Question 20. The poem suggests a shift in the speaker's mood and perspective. Elaborate.
Answer: At the beginning, the poet is sad and regretful; he feels that his day has been wasted. When the crow shakes the dust of snow on him, his mood changes. He feels refreshed and hopeful and realises that the rest of his day can still be saved. His outlook moves from gloom to positivity.

Question 21. How does the poet use visual imagery and descriptive language to effectively depict a transformative moment?
Answer: The poet paints a clear picture of a black crow sitting on a hemlock tree and shaking down soft white snow on him. The contrast between the dark crow and the white snow, and the simple description of the snow falling, make the moment vivid and show how it transformed his mood.

Question 22. How has the poet observed nature in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?
Answer: The poet comes across as a nature lover. The hemlock tree is a poisonous tree and the crow is also related to bad omens. But the poet presents them very aesthetically, bringing positivity. Both bring cheer and happiness to him in his rather gloomy mood. Through his poem, Robert Frost wants to convey a very important message that everything around us, especially nature, is beautiful and worth admiring.

Question 23. Where was the poet and what happened to him?
Answer: The poet was standing under a hemlock tree. He was in a sad and depressed mood. It was the time of winter. It had been snowing. Just then a crow came and it shook the dust of snow on the poet. As soon as the dust of snow fell on the poet his sad mood underwent a change and he became cheerful.

Question 24. What does the poet want to convey through the poem?
Answer: The poet, Robert Frost, wants to convey a very significant message through the poem. He wants people to have faith and stay positive. Everything undergoes changes; no mood, no sad feeling or even happiness is permanent. We just have to see and find goodness in small things as they can make huge differences. Nature has all the answers to human problems, one just needs to see them.

Question 25. 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?
Answer: Pigeons, swans, ducks, eagles are some birds often mentioned in poems whereas a crow is rare. A crow usually brings forth images of dark and sinister things.

Question 26. 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?
Answer: The Hemlock tree is a coniferous tree so called because of the smell resembling the poison, hemlock. The poet uses a hemlock tree in his poem as it depicts poison and toxicity. The tree symbolises the poet’s depressive mood.

Question 27. Describe the scene in the poem Dust and Snow.
Answer: The poet is standing under a hemlock tree with a lot of sadness in his heart. A crow on the tree shakes off some snow onto the poet. This makes the poet shake off the sadness and save his day from being wasted.

Question 28. Explain the symbols used in the poem, Dust and Snow.
Answer: The ‘hemlock tree’ symbolises the poet’s heart and the ‘dust of snow’ is the symbol of sadness. When the crow shakes off the dust of snow from the tree, it resembles the shaking off of, the sadness from the poet’s heart.

Question 29. What is the gist of the poem, Dust and Snow?
Answer: The poem shows us that sometimes even a small incident may prove to be of a larger significance. Like the crow shakes off the dust of snow from the tree, the poet also shakes off his sorrow and changes his mood for the day.

Long Answer Questions

Question 1. ‘Good things come in small packages’. How does the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’, illustrate this idea?
Answer: In the poem, the falling of a dust of snow on the poet when a crow shook it off a hemlock tree ushers in a profound reaction. It arouses feelings about the greatness of nature, illustrating that nature is the bedrock of human responses. Previously, the poet had treated his heart as a body organ but following this incident, he undergoes a change of mood, with the heart becoming the repository of this change. He realises that human beings are rooted to the earth and linked to even ordinary things, like a crow, a hemlock tree, or a drop of snow. The commonplace augurs happiness, thereby proving that good things are to be sought in small packages and seemingly inconsequential ways.

Question 2. Our attitude towards a circumstance evokes different responses—either positive or negative. With reference to the poem ‘Dust of Snow’, bring out the importance of the right attitude in life. How did Mijbil, the otter, respond to the changing circumstances in its life? Analyse with reference to the poem ‘Dust of Snow’ and the story ‘Mijbil the Otter’.
Answer: We are emotional beings, so whatever life throws at us evokes a reaction or a response. Frost was shaken out of his sorrow when a crow shook down the dust of snow on him. The humble crow brought cheer to the poet; he overlooked his gloom and even forgot to be annoyed with the crow. It inspired Frost to shake off his bitterness and look at life with a smile. Through his poem he advises that we should look at the brighter side of life.
Otters love water. When Mijbil was placed in very different circumstances in a city, he did not get bogged down. He tried his best to adjust in the author’s home and soon found out how to turn on the taps. He went shooting up and down the length of the bathtub underwater, making enough slosh and splash. He also adjusted to city life, galloping along the low wall outside a school and touching the railings much like the schoolchildren. Had he not adapted himself, he could not have survived.