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Dust of Snow
Dust of Snow
General Instructions:
1. The Practice Paper comprises objective and short and long answer type questions.
2. Attempt all questions.
3. There is no negative marking.
(d) Why does the poet feel that he has saved some part of the day?
Crow shook down the dust of snow on the poet. Both crow and
hemlock tree are considered inauspicious. The falling of dust of snow
from hemlock tree is bad omen. But the poet took it in a positive
way. He found himself relieved from sorrow after this incident. Now
he could use his entire day in a fruitful way.
(b) What are possible themes of this poem? What do you learn from them?
Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.
Hope is one of the themes in this poem. The poet happily and quickly
decides that the day is saved because of the dust of snow that falls
on him. He no longer thinks the day is wasted and instead has a hope
that the day can be salvaged (saved). Another theme of this poem
revolves around the positive perspective. The poet’s perspective is
changed by a small event. Perhaps the poem implies that we can
either think positively or negatively about the events depending on
our perspectives and points of view. However, we should adopt the
poet’s outlook and maintain a positive perspective on life in general.
(c) Nature has the power to lift our mood even when we are highly
despondent. Comment on the basis of your understanding of the poem
‘Dust of Snow’.
The poem ‘Dust of Snow’ by Robert Frost is a poem which enlightens
us on how small things of nature can refresh us and cheer us for the
rest of the day. Though Frost has beautifully depicted (shown) a crow
and a hemlock tree, both of these are associated with bad-omen and
fear. But they have been used by the poet Frost to uplift his mood
and make him feel positive. Frost’s writing skill as a poet lies in the
fact that he is able to effectively convey to us how such a thing as the
falling of snowflakes from the top of tree can have a refreshing effect
on the mind of a man. So, every aspect of nature, be it a crow or
hemlock tree can be a source of positivity and can be helpful in
lifting a depressed mind.