GSEB Class 10 English Solutions Chapter 1 Dust Of Snow

Thinking about the Poem

Question 1. What is a 'dust of snow' ? What does the poet say has changed his mood ? How has the poet's mood changed ? (August 20)
Answer: The dust of snow refers to the tiny particles of snow. The falling of snow on the poet changes his mood. The gentle and cold touch of snow shifted the poet's mood from sad to happy. Now, he feels refreshed and grateful for nature's beauty.
In simple words: 'Dust of snow' means small snow bits. The falling snow made the poet feel better, changing his mood from sad to happy, making him feel fresh and thankful.

Exam Tip: When answering questions about literary terms like 'dust of snow', define the term first and then explain its impact as described in the poem.

Question 2. How does Frost present nature in this poem ? The following questions may help you to think of an answer:
(1) 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 ?
(2) 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 ?
(3) 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:
(1) Frost shows nature in a very different way in this poem. Usually, poets pick birds and trees known for their beauty and good qualities, like peacocks, parrots, cuckoos, mynahs, and trees full of pretty flowers and fruits.
However, here Frost takes a completely different approach. He selects a crow, a bird that is black and has a very harsh voice, generally considered a symbol of bad luck.
(2) A hemlock tree is a poisonous plant with white flowers. Robert Frost decided not to use an oak, maple, or pine tree. Instead, he chose the hemlock tree, which is commonly linked with poison and danger. Nonetheless, the lovely snow covering the poisonous hemlock tree's branches is shaken off by a spooky crow. This shows he has left out all the beautiful colours in the world, opting for black and white. The poet has done this to truly show his mood and emotions.
(3) The crow and the hemlock tree symbolize the sadness and depression the poet experiences in this material world. On the other hand, the dust of snow represents natural happiness and energy. It means by going through these sad and tough moments, the poet is moving into a period full of joy and hopeful feelings.
In simple words: Frost uses unusual nature elements like a crow and a poisonous hemlock tree, which usually mean bad things. This shows how his mood changes from sad to happy due to a simple event, finding joy in unexpected places.

Exam Tip: For questions asking how a poet presents themes, discuss the specific elements (birds, trees, weather) chosen and explain their symbolic meaning or contrast with typical poetic conventions.

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: I was feeling very sad because I did not achieve a good outcome in my yearly exams, and I was crying a lot. Then, deeply upset, I rested my head in my mother's lap. She comforted me kindly and gently put me to sleep, softly caressing my head. When I woke up the next morning, I found that all the bad thoughts had left my mind, and I decided to try harder in the next class.
In simple words: Yes, I felt sad after poor exam results. My mother's comfort changed my mood, and I woke up feeling better, ready to study harder.

Exam Tip: When sharing personal experiences, keep the language simple and focus on the turning point that changed your mood, connecting it to the theme of the poem.

GSEB Class 10 English Dust of Snow Additional Important Questions and Answers

Read the following stanzas carefully and answer the questions given below them:

Question 1.
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree.
Questions:
(1) Name the poet of the poem 'Dust of Snow'.
(2) Where was the crow sitting ?
(3) What did the crow shake onto the poet ?
Answer:
(1) The poet of the poem 'Dust of Snow' is Robert Frost.
(2) The crow was sitting on a hemlock tree.
(3) The crow shook particles of snow onto the poet.
In simple words: Robert Frost wrote 'Dust of Snow'. The crow sat on a hemlock tree and shook snow onto the poet.

Exam Tip: For stanza-based questions, identify direct information first, such as the poet's name or specific actions mentioned.

Question 2.
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
Questions:
(1) Who is 'I' in the passage?
(2) Explain 'A change of mood'.
(3) What did the poet say about the change of mood?
Answer:
(1) 'I' in the poem is the poet himself.
(2) The poet was in a thoughtful mood under the hemlock tree. But the crow sitting on the tree shook small pieces of snow onto the poet, and their soothing touch changed the poet's sad mood into a happy one.
(3) The poet mentions that his altered mood has rescued his valuable upcoming moments from being wasted.
In simple words: 'I' is the poet. His mood changed from sad to happy when a crow shook snow on him. This saved his remaining day from being wasted.

Exam Tip: When asked to explain a phrase, always relate it back to the context of the poem and the speaker's emotions.

Choose the correct figures of speech used in the following lines:

Question 1. 'Has given my heart, a change of mood.' (March 20)
(a) Simile
(b) Synecdoche
(c) Apostrophe
(d) Tautology
Answer: (c) Apostrophe
In simple words: Apostrophe is when you talk to someone or something that isn't really there or cannot respond, like talking to your own heart.

Exam Tip: Identify the figure of speech by checking if an inanimate object or an absent person is directly addressed, which points to Apostrophe.

Question 2. 'And saved some part'
(a) Synecdoche
(b) Onomatopoeia
(c) Alliteration
(d) None of the options
Answer: (c) Alliteration
In simple words: Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the start of words close together, like the 's' sound in "saved some part."

Exam Tip: Look for repeating consonant sounds at the beginning of words to easily spot alliteration.

Answer the following questions in three to four sentences each:

Question 1. Explain the line 'And saved some part Of a day I had rued.'
Answer: The poet was feeling unhappy and hopeless. He was not in a cheerful mood and stood under a hemlock tree. Suddenly, a crow shook snow dust on him. This small, simple occurrence changed his mood, making him realize he was wasting his time. He then decided to enjoy the rest of his day.
In simple words: The poet was sad and wasting his day. A crow shaking snow on him made him realize he could enjoy the rest of his time instead of regretting it.

Exam Tip: When explaining a poetic line, first state the poet's initial state, describe the incident, and then explain the resulting change and its significance.

Question 2. Why was the poet standing under the hemlock tree ?'
Answer: The poet was feeling sad and without hope. He was in a state of sorrowful thought. As he was deep in his thoughts, he was standing beneath the hemlock tree. This incident was not something he had planned.
In simple words: The poet was sad and lost in thought, so he happened to be standing under the hemlock tree without planning to.

Exam Tip: Focus on the poet's emotional state and the unplanned nature of his presence under the tree when answering this type of question.

Answer the following questions in five to six sentences each:

Question 1. Explain the message of the poem 'Dust of Snow'.
Answer: The poem 'Dust of Snow' by Robert Frost highlights that small things in life can cause major changes in the future. It also shows that if we handle life's difficult times well, something will eventually happen to turn our situation into happier moments. The simple actions we do for others can truly make a difference. Just think about those random acts of kindness and how much they brighten someone's day, sometimes even changing their future. Noticing and appreciating all the little things in life will make us happier. It will also encourage us to have a spirit ready to change and succeed.
In simple words: The poem teaches that small things can bring big changes. Facing tough times bravely can lead to happier moments. Simple acts of kindness and appreciating little things can make life better and help us succeed.

Exam Tip: When explaining a poem's message, start with the core idea and then elaborate on how specific actions or attitudes can lead to positive outcomes.

Question 2. What is the central idea of the poem 'Dust of Snow' ?
Answer: The poem conveys the importance of small things in changing one's perspective. The poet values the beauty of the snowflakes, which altered his mood and saved many precious moments from being wasted. The crow shakes off the snow dust from the hemlock tree. In the same way, one can shake off the sadness from one's heart.
In simple words: The main idea is that small things can change our feelings. The poet feels better after snow falls, saving his day. It means we can get rid of sadness just like snow is shaken from a tree.

Exam Tip: To identify the central idea, look for the main theme that connects all elements of the poem, focusing on the core message about nature's impact on mood.

Dust of Snow Summary in English

Dust of Snow Introduction:

Robert Lee Frost (March 26, 1874 -January 29, 1963) was an American poet. He was born in San Francisco, California. During his life, he won more than one Pulitzer Prize and studied at Harvard. His work was first published in England before it came out in America. He is known for his realistic portrayals of rural life and his control of American common speech. Frost often wrote about scenes from rural New England in the early twentieth century, using them to explore complex social and philosophical themes.

Dust of Snow Summary:

The poet is upset and sitting under the hemlock tree. Suddenly, a crow sitting on the tree shakes the type and the fine particles of snow from the tree, which then fall on the poet. The soft and cold feel of the snow changes the poet's mood from sad to happy. He begins to feel comforted and refreshed. In this way, a simple moment proves to be very important and saves the rest of the poet's day from being wasted and held in regret. The black crow is often a symbol of death and fear. Since the crow is not linked with goodness, it is ironic that in this poem, it performs a good deed by shaking off the snow.