DUST OF SNOW - POETRY

CHAPTER-2
FIRST FLIGHT

About the Author- Robert Frost

- A Short Biography

Robert Frost was a famous American poet. He was born in San Francisco on March 26, 1874. His father
belonged to New England, and his mother was a Scottish immigrant from Edinburgh. By the 1920s, Frost was
the most celebrated poet in America. His poetical works’ A Boy’s Will’ (1913), ‘North of Boston’ (1914),
New Hampshire’ (1923), ‘A Further Range’ (1936) ‘Steeple Bush’ (1947) and ‘In the Clearing’ (1962)
increased his fame and honor. The poem ‘Dust of Snow’ was published in ‘New Hampshire’ in 1923. This
collection gave him the Pulitzer Prize.

INTRODUCTION
Robert Frost, a well known American poet of nature, in this poem presents a moment that seems simple but
has a larger significance. It is a highly symbolic poem. One day the poet was in a depressed mood. A pleasant
thing happened in a tree. It changed the poet’s mood. It saved the rest of the day for the poet.

CENTRAL IDEA OF THE POEM

‘Dust of Snow’ is a small poem written by the famous American poet, Robert Frost. The poem is set on a
wintry day. In the first stanza, the poet describes a simple natural happening. The snow is falling heavily. The
snowy flakes have covered the top of the trees. The poet is standing under a hemlock tree. The movement and
alighting of a crow on that tree, make the dust of snowfall on the poet. The crow, a symbol of ill omen and the
hemlock tree, associated with a person, is not auspicious things. However, in the second stanza, the falling of
snowflakes and the scene leave a tremendous effect on the mental state and mood of the poet. So far, the day
has been quite gloomy and wastage for him. But this ordinary natural happening suddenly brings the desired
change in his mood. It gladdens his heart. He realises that the falling of snowflakes on him has saved the day.
Now he has no regret as the whole of the day has not gone waste. The moments of the snowfall and their
effect have saved the day. They have brought a change in his mood and gladdened and uplifted his spirits.

EXPLANATION OF THE POEM

The short poem by Robert Frost throws light upon the unimaginable healing power of nature and tiny things.
From a bad mood to ill-health, there is nothing that can’t be cured by nature.
FIRST STANZA
There's the speaker, the man, under a tree. It's probably winter, there's snow on the tree, an evergreen pine
called a hemlock, and a crow has happened to send some snow dust down on the man.
Whether it falls on to his head or down his neck is unknown because it's not really relevant to the poem. What
is important is the way that crow makes it happen, but once again, the reader is left to imagine the bird's
specific action.
Whether it be the crow preening, merely shaking, flying off, or landing, or readjusting its feet on a branch,
somehow a light dusting of snow is the result, and it lands on the speaker.
The actual word is shook, so it could be that the crow is shivering in the snowy tree. For the speaker this must
have come out of the blue; the crow's action caused an unexpected fall of snow dust.

The first stanza is the speaker setting the scene but leaving a little bit of guesswork for the reader. The
question has to be asked: In what way precisely did that crow shake down the dust of snow?
In a comical way? In a mischievous way? In an indifferent way?
Each line runs into the next - enjambment - so giving the idea of build up which goes hand in hand with the
rising iambic beat (see metrical analysis below).

SECOND STANZA
So the first stanza flows into the second which is the more intimate part of the poem as the speaker begins to
confirm a change of mood. The crow, traditionally given a bad name as a harbinger of doom and fear,
becomes a catalyst for positive change.
The speaker, because of the snow dust falling on him, finds himself partially relieved - his day just got a
whole lot better - the event somehow allowing him to see life from a different angle.

There are two crucial words Frost uses here: rued and saved, the former meaning to regret something which
often cannot be undone and the latter meaning to rescue or keep safe.

The word saved is also associated with religion - being saved (by Christ) - for example, but this doesn't really
fit the circumstances of the speaker. Why? Because only part of a day is saved, not his soul.

If the figurative heart changes mood then this is quite a profound shift nevertheless and it illustrates the power
that nature sometimes has over we human beings.
The speaker could well have been stressed out over something, gone for a short walk to try and think things
through. Then whilst under the tree...down came the dust of snow to alleviate the symptoms.

If anything there is a strong case for irony and comedy in this poem.
Picture the troubled speaker, all serious, self-absorbed, worrying about what had happened to him a few hours
earlier.
Suddenly there is the crow flapping from a high branch; then down comes the freezing white dust to land
straight on the poker-faced speaker.
And isn't it ironic that a creature usually linked with negative aspects of life should become the bringer of
positive change?

The message is clear enough. Sometimes seemingly insignificant natural events do bring about change.
Being outdoors in nature, with all its unpredictability, can benefit anyone, anywhere at anytime.

SUMMARY - DUST OF SNOW

The author was experiencing one such bad day when a crow’s movement near a hemlock tree dusted snow
upon him. The snow instantly makes him happier. His day gets a lot better. Thus, the supremacy of nature as a
whole made him realise how petty his problem was. The fact that hemlock tree is poisonous combined with
crow being the indicator of doom and fear are used in the poem as the carriers of happiness in the life of
narrator is ironical.

The poet, through these objects has tried to highlight that sometimes creatures linked with negative aspects of
life can be the bringer of change and happiness. Being outdoors in nature, with all it’s unpredictability can
benefit anyone, anywhere at any time.

DETAILED SUMMARY
Dust of Snow’ is an awful poem of nature by Robert Frosty In this poem a symbolic incident is present The
poet is standing under a hemlock tree. He is in a sad mood. He thinks that his day has been lost then a crow
shakes the hemlock tree-and the dust of snow falls on him. This little incident brings about a sudden change in
the state of the poet’s mind. His mood has changed. He thinks that it has saved the rest of his day and gets
busy with his work like the crow.
1.FLAKES OF SNOW: It was a day of winter. It was snowing all around. A fine dust of snow had covered the
tops of the trees. A hemlock tree was standing there. The top of the hemlock tree was all covered with the fine
dust of snow. The poet was standing under that hemlock tree.

2. SUDDEN ARRIVAL OF A CROW, FALLING OF SNOW DUST ON POET: A crow from nowhere came
and perched on the top of the tree. The sudden movement of the crow made the dust of snow fall down. The
flakes of snow fell on the poet who was standing under that tree.

3. SIMPLE NATURAL HAPPENING: The arrival of a crow and its sitting on the hemlock tree is just an
ordinary happening. There is nothing great about the incident. On the other hand, the crow stands for an ill
omen and the hemlock tree is associated with poison. But these seemingly simple things of nature leave a deep
impact on the mind and mood of the poet.

4. CHANGE IN THE MOOD: This ordinary incident leaves a deep impact on the poet. So far it has been a
very dull and disappointing day for the poet. The day has not gone well for him. But the falling of the flakes
and dust of snow on him are welcome signs for the poet. His mood changes for the better and his spirits are
uplifted. Now he realises that the whole day has not gone waste. Those moments while he is enjoying the fall
of snow dust on him are his happy moments. They lift up his mood and gladden his heart. Now he realises that
at least some part of the day has been spent happily. In the end, satisfaction replaces regret.

KEY POINTS OF THE POEM TO REMEMBER

It is a winter’s day.
The treetops were covered with masses of snowflakes.
The poet was walking under one such snow covered tree.
This tree was a hemlock tree, a conifer associated with poisonous qualities.
A crow alighted on the hemlock tree suddenly.
The sudden movement of the crow, the mass of snowflakes started falling down the tree.
The snowflakes fell down upon the poet who was standing under the tree.
The mass of snowflakes was so light and find that it looked like the dust of white snow.
The sudden movement and arrival of the crow and the falling of the flakes of snow look like just ordinary
happenings.
But the falling of fine snowflakes on the poet leaves a tremendous effect on him.
Before this, the poet was in a gloomy or despairing mood.
However, this simple beautiful act of nature has a very comforting effect on him.
The fall of snow over him changes his mood and mental state.
It gladdens his heart.
Before this incident, that particular day was not going too well for him.
He had decided in his mind that day would go waste.
However, the fall of snowflakes on him makes him realise that the whole day has not been wasted.
At least, this part of the day when he is enjoying the snowflakes has been saved.
At least, some part of the day has been pleasant.
If he had not experienced such a pleasant experience, he would have regretted at the wastage of the whole day.
Word-Meaning

Way—manner, Shook down — shook the snow dust down, Hemlock — a poisonous tree,A change of mood
— a change in the present condition of mind, Saved — saved from being wasted, Part — portion, rectal Rued
— regretted deeply, felt deeply sad,

QUESTION AND ANSWER

Ques 1: What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s
mood changed?

A “dust of snow” means the fine particles of snow. This “dust of snow” changed the poet’s mood. The poet’s
mood changed from that of dismay to joy. He was holding the day in regret when this dust of snow fell on him
and this simple little thing brought him some joy.

Ques 2: 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?

Frost has presented nature in quite an unconventional manner. While in other nature poems we come across
birds such as nightingales or sparrows, Frost has used a crow in this poem. A crow can be associated with
something dark, black, and foreboding. That is why other poets usually mention singing nightingales or
beautiful white doves in their poems.

(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?

The poet has written about a hemlock tree, which is a poisonous tree. He has not written about a more
beautiful tree such as a maple, or oak, or pine because these trees symbolise beauty and happiness. Frost
wanted to symbolise the feelings of sadness and regret, which is why he has used a hemlock tree.

(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?

The crow and the hemlock tree represent sorrow. The dust of snow that is shaken off the hemlock tree by the
crow stands for joy that Frost experiences. He has, therefore, used an unconventional tree and bird in order to
contrast them with joy in the form of snow.