Greetings, friends! Welcome to etutorguru. Within this piece of writing, we have furnished CBSE Notes for Class 10 English Poem 1, “Dust of Snow” and NCERT solutions . Using these resources can help students perform better in exams.

What You’ll Find In This Post –

• About the Poet
• Dust of  Short Snow Summary
• Dust of Snow Detailed Summary
• Dust of Snow Detailed Literary Devices
• Dust of Snow PDF Notes Download
• Dust of Snow Full Summary

About the Poet Dust of  Snow : Robert Frost

Robert Frost was an American poet who lived from 1874 to 1963. He was known for his use of traditional forms and his ability to capture the nuances of everyday life. Frost’s poetry often dealt with themes of nature and rural life, and he had a unique ability to use simple language to express complex emotions. He was highly celebrated during his lifetime and received many awards and honors, including four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry. Some of his most famous works include “The Road Not Taken,” “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” and “Mending Wall.” Frost’s work continues to be studied and appreciated by readers around the world.

Dust of  Snow Short Summary 

“Dust of Snow” is a poem by Robert Frost that highlights the transformative power of nature and the significance of small moments in our lives. A crow shaking down the dust of snow from a hemlock tree onto the speaker’s head saves them from a day of sadness and regret.

The poem “Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost describes a small moment of beauty and wonder that changes the speaker’s mood and saves the day from being completely ruined. A crow shakes down the dust of snow from a hemlock tree onto the speaker’s head, and this small event transforms the speaker’s mood. The poem highlights the power of nature to heal and the significance of small moments in our lives. Literary devices such as personification, symbolism, alliteration, and imagery are used to create vivid images and musicality in the poem. Overall, “Dust of Snow” celebrates the transformative power of nature and the importance of finding beauty in small moments.

Dust of Snow Detailed Summary 

“Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost is a short but powerful poem that describes a transformative moment in the speaker’s life. The poem begins with the speaker describing how a crow shakes down the “dust of snow” from a hemlock tree onto the speaker’s head. This small and seemingly insignificant moment has a profound impact on the speaker’s mood, as it changes their perspective and saves them from a day of sadness and regret.

The poem highlights the healing power of nature and the significance of small moments in our lives. The crow, which is personified as intentionally shaking the dust of snow onto the speaker, represents nature and its transformative power. The dust of snow itself represents a small moment of beauty and wonder that can change our mood and uplift us from our negative thoughts and emotions.

The poem is also notable for its use of literary devices. 

For example, the repeated “s” sounds in “shook down on me” and “saved some part” create a sense of musicality in the poem. The imagery created by the poem is also vivid and powerful, as the reader can imagine the crow shaking the snow from the hemlock tree and the speaker’s mood being lifted.

In conclusion, “Dust of Snow” is a beautiful and powerful poem that celebrates the transformative power of nature and the importance of finding beauty in small moments. Through its use of literary devices and vivid imagery, the poem conveys the message that even the smallest of moments can have a profound impact on our lives and change our perspectives.

Theme of the Poem:

1. Nature’s healing power
2. The power of small moments

Literary Devices / Poetic Devices:

1. Personification
2. Alliteration
3. Symbolism
4. Imagery

Word Meanings:

1. Dust of snow – a small amount of snow
2. Hemlock – a poisonous plant
3. Crow – a large, black bird
4. Winter sky – the sky during the winter season

Dust of Snow Full Summary 

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.

Theme 1: Nature’s Healing Power

The poem “Dust of Snow” highlights nature’s healing power. A small moment of beauty and wonder can change our mood and save us from a day of sadness. The crow shaking down the dust of snow from a hemlock tree symbolises the transformative power of nature.

Literary Devices / Poetic Devices:

1. Personification: The crow is personified as if it intentionally shook the dust of snow on the speaker.

2. Symbolism: The dust of snow represents a small moment of beauty and wonder that can change our mood.

Word Meanings:

1. Hemlock: A poisonous plant. In the poem, it symbolises the negativity or sadness that the speaker is feeling.

2. Crow: A large, black bird generally considered bad omen. In the poem, it represents nature.

Theme 2: The Power of Small Moments

The poem “Dust of Snow” also highlights the power of small moments. The dust of snow falling on the speaker’s head seems like a small and insignificant event, but it changes the speaker’s mood and saves the day from being completely ruined.

Literary Devices / Poetic Devices:

1. Alliteration: The repeated “s” sounds in “shook down on me” and “saved some part” create a sense of musicality in the poem.

2. Imagery: The poem creates vivid images of the crow shaking down the dust of snow from the hemlock tree and the speaker’s mood being lifted.

Word Meanings:

1. Winter sky: The sky during the winter season. In the poem, it represents the cold and harsh reality of the day that the speaker is experiencing. 

2. Dust of snow: A small amount of snow. In the poem, it represents a small moment of beauty and wonder.

Dust of Snow PDF Notes Download :

Dust of Snow NCERT Solution

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 a short poem by Robert Frost. In the poem, the speaker describes how a crow shaking off snow from a hemlock tree creates a small flurry of snow, which lands on the speaker and changes his mood.
The poet says that the “dust of snow” has changed his mood. This is because the small, seemingly insignificant event of the crow shaking off snow has reminded him of the beauty and wonder of nature. The speaker’s mood has changed from one of gloom or sadness to one of joy or contentment.

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 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 more ‘beautiful’ trees 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. Birds that are usually named in poems include the nightingale, the lark, the dove, the swan, and the eagle, among others. While the crow may not be as commonly mentioned in poetry as these other birds, it still holds a significant place in many cultures and has been the subject of various myths, legends, and folklore. When I think of a crow, I typically picture a black bird with a harsh, croaking call, often associated with death, mystery, and the supernatural.

2. A hemlock tree is a type of coniferous tree that is commonly found in North America. While it may not be as conventionally beautiful as some other trees, such as a maple or an oak, it still holds a certain quiet majesty and has a unique and recognizable appearance. Frost may have chosen to write about a hemlock tree because it was a familiar and everyday sight for him, and he wanted to emphasise the beauty that can be found in even the most ordinary things.

3. In “Dust of Snow,” the crow and the hemlock tree do not represent joy or sorrow in themselves, but rather they serve as a catalyst for the speaker’s changing mood. The dust of snow that the crow shakes off the hemlock tree represents the transformative power of nature, which can take even the smallest and most mundane moments and turn them into something beautiful and meaningful. The dust of snow is a metaphor for the unexpected and delightful surprises that can come from experiencing the natural world around us.

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: Should be assessed by students only.