English-Poem-1

Part-1
Q1- Who is the poet of the poem "Dust of Snow"?
A) Leslie Norris
B) Robert Frost
C) Carolyn Wells
D) Robin Klein
 

Q2- Why does the poet call it "dust of snow"?

A) snow particles were too tiny
B) they came over him like dust
C) they felt like dust
D) they looked like dust
 

Q3- The poet says, "Of a day I had rued". What is the meaning of
"rued"?
A) ruined
B) held in regret
C) ruled
D) conquered
 

Q4- What uplifted his mood?

A) falling of snow on his shoulder
B) the crow
C) hemlock tree
D) all of the above
 

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Q5- What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
A) baba cdcd
B) abab cdcd
C) abab cddc
D) abba cdcd
 

Q6- Name the poetic device used in the line "Has given my heart"
A) alliteration
B) metaphor
C) oxymoron
D) similie
 

Q7- Name the poetic device used in the line "And saved some part"
A) alliteration
B) metaphor
C) oxymoron
D) similie
 

Q8- What does "Dust of Snow" represent?

A) healing power of nature
B) particles of snow
C) cool weather
D) none of the above
 

Q9- What are the two negative creatures that Frost used as carriers of
positivity?
A) snow, dust
B) hemlock tree, snow
C) snow, crow
D) hemlock tree, crow
 

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 Q10- The crow and Hemlock tree symbolize ____
A) sorrow
B) happiness
C) celebration
D) death
 
 
 Question 1.
What is the name of the poet?
(a) Sylvia Plath
(b) W.B Yeats
(c) Robert Frost
(d) Robert Burns

Question 2.
How did the dust of snow affect the poet?
(a) It made him energetic
(b) It changed his mood
(c) It made him superior
(d) None of the Above

Question 3.
What was the mood of the poet in the beginning of the poem?
(a) Sad mood
(b) Happy mood
(c) Confuse mood
(d) None of the Above

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Question 4.
What did crow shake on the poet?
(a) dust of tree
(b) dust of garden
(c) dust of snow
(d) dust of land

Question 5.
The crow and Hemlock tree symbolize ____
(a) sorrow
(b) happiness
(c) celebration
(d) death

Question 6.
What does “Dust of Snow” represent?
(a) healing power of nature
(b) particles of snow
(c) cool weather
(d) none of the above

Question 7.
Name the poetic device used in the line “Has given my heart”
(a) alliteration
(b) metaphor
(c) oxymoron
(d) similie

4
Question 8.
What uplifted his mood?
(a) falling of snow on his shoulder
(b) the crow
(c) hemlock tree
(d) all of the above

Question 9.
Why does the poet call it “dust of snow”?
(a) snow particles were too tiny
(b) they came over him like dust
(c) they felt like dust
(d) they looked like dust

Question 10.
What are the two negative creatures that Frost used as carriers of
positivity?
(a) snow, dust
(b) hemlock tree, snow
(c) snow, crow
(d) hemlock tree, crow

Multiple Choice Questions Based on Extract

(A) 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

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Of a day I had rued.
I. 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.

ii. 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 &7

b) 2, 4 & 6

c) 5 & 7

d) 1 & 3

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iii. 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.

iv. 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

v. 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.

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Q1. What did the poet think of the day before the dust of snow fell
on him?

(a) He was energetic

(b) He was rude
(c) He was lucky
(d) His day was ruined.

Q2. How does the poet’s mood get changed?

(a) When he started running

(b) When started laughing
(c) When dust of snow fall on him
(d) None of the Above

Q3. Whose part of the day has been saved?

(a) Crow’s part of the day

(b) Tree’s part of the day
(c) Poet’s part of the day
(d) None of the Above

Q4. Where was the crow?

(a) Peepal Tree

(b) Hemlock Tree
(c) Deodar Cedar
(d) Banyan Tree

Q5. What are the two negative creatures that Frost used as
carriers of positivity?

(a) snow, dust

(b) hemlock tree, snow

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(c) snow, crow
(d) hemlock tree, crow

Q6. Name the poetic device used in the line “And saved some part”

(a) alliteration
(b) metaphor
(c) oxymoron
(d) similie

Q7. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

(a) baba cdcd

(b) abab cdcd
(c) abab cddc
(d) abba cdcd

Q8. The poet says, “Of a day I had rued”. What is the meaning of
“rued”?

(a) ruined
(b) held in regret
(c) ruled
(d) conquered

Q9. Who is the poet of the poem “Dust of Snow”?

(a) Leslie Norris

(b) Robert Frost
(c) Carolyn Wells
(d) Robin Klein

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Q10. The crow and Hemlock tree symbolize __

(a) sorrow
(b) happiness
(c) celebration
(d) death

Question 1.
What did the poet think of the day before the dust of snow fell on him?
(a) He was energetic
(b) He was rude
(c) He was lucky
(d) His day was ruined.

Question 2.
How does the poet’s mood get changed?
(a) When he started running
(b) When started laughing
(c) When dust of snow fall on him
(d) None of the Above

Question 3.
Whose part of the day has been saved?
(a) Crow’s part of the day
(b) Tree’s part of the day
(c) Poet’s part of the day
(d) None of the Above

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Question 4.
Where was the crow?
(a) Peepal Tree
(b) Hemlock Tree
(c) Deodar Cedar
(d) Banyan Tree

Question 5.
What are the two negative creatures that Frost used as carriers of
positivity?
(a) snow, dust
(b) hemlock tree, snow
(c) snow, crow
(d) hemlock tree, crow

Question 6.
Name the poetic device used in the line “And saved some part”
(a) alliteration
(b) metaphor
(c) oxymoron
(d) similie

Question 7.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
(a) baba cdcd
(b) abab cdcd
(c) abab cddc
(d) abba cdcd

Question 8.
The poet says, “Of a day I had rued”. What is the meaning of “rued”?
(a) ruined
(b) held in regret

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(c) ruled
(d) conquered

Question 9.
Who is the poet of the poem “Dust of Snow”?
(a) Leslie Norris
(b) Robert Frost
(c) Carolyn Wells
(d) Robin Klein

Question 10.
The crow and Hemlock tree symbolize ____
(a) sorrow
(b) happiness
(c) celebration
(d) death

Q1. What are the two negative creatures that Frost used as
carriers of positivity?

(i) snow, dust

(ii) hemlock tree, snow
(iii) snow, crow
(iv) hemlock tree, crow

Q2. Who composed the above lines ?

(i) John Berryman

(ii) Carolyn Wells
(iii) Leslie Norris
(iv) Robert Frost

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Q3. What does “Dust of Snow” represent?

(i) healing power of nature

(ii) particles of snow
(iii) cool weather
(iv) none of the above

Q4. Where was the crow?

(i) Peepal Tree

(ii) Hemlock Tree
(iii) Deodar Cedar
(iv) Banyan Tree

Q5. From where was snow dropped?

(i) from a pipai tree

(ii) from a neem tree
(iii) from a hemlock tree
(iv) from a rose plant

Q6. What did crow shake on the poet?

(i) dust of tree

(ii) dust of garden
(iii) dust of snow
(iv) dust of land

Q7. What does “Dust of Snow” represent?

(i) healing power of nature

(ii) particles of snow
(iii) cool weather
(iv) none of the above

13
Q8. Whose part of the day has been saved?

(i) Crow’s part of the day

(ii) Tree’s part of the day
(iii) Poet’s part of the day
(iv) None of the Above

Q9. The poet was in a

(i) pleasant mood

(ii) playful mood
(iii) rough mood
(iv) sad mood

Q10. What is the name of the poet?

(i) Sylvia Plath

(ii) W.B Yeats
(iii) Robert Frost
(iv) Robert Burns

Q11. Name the poetic device used in the line “Has given my heart”

(i) alliteration
(ii) metaphor
(iii) oxymoron
(iv) similie

Q12. What did the poet think of the day before the dust of snow
fell on him?

(i) He was energetic

(ii) He was rude

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(iii) He was lucky
(iv) His day was ruined.

Q13. What has the poet saved ?

(i) some part of the day

(ii) some money
(iii) some poetry
(iv) some part of a book

Q14. Name the poetic device used in the line “Has given my heart

(i) alliteration
(ii) metaphor
(iii) oxymoron
(iv) similie

Q15. The crow and Hemlock tree symbolize

(i) sorrow
(ii) happiness
(iii) celebration
(iv) death

1. Where was the crow?

(a) Peepal Tree(b) Hemlock Tree(c) Deodar Cedar(d) Banyan Tree
2. What did crow shake on the poet?
(a) dust of tree(b) dust of garden(c) dust of snow(d) dust of land
3. Whose part of the day has been saved?
(a) Crow's part of the day(b) Tree's part of the day(c) Poet's part of the
day(d) None of the Above

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4. What was the mood of the poet in the beginning of the poem?
(a) Sad mood(b) Happy mood(c) Confuse mood(d) None of the Above
5. How does the poet’s mood get changed?
(a) When he started running(b) When started laughing(c) When dust of
snow fall on him(d) None of the Above
6. How did the dust of snow affect the poet?
(a) It made him energetic(b) It changed his mood(c) It made him
superior(d) None of the Above
7. What did the poet think of the day before the dust of snow fell on
him?
(a) He was energetic(b) He was rude(c) He was lucky(d) His day was
ruined
8. What is the name of the poet?(a) Sylvia Plath(b) W.B Yeats(c) Robert
Frost(d) Robert Burns

QI 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.

Q ii 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

16
6) disheartened
7) impulsive
a) 1, 3 &7
b) 2, 4 & 6
c) 5 & 7
d) 1 & 3

Q iii 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.

Q iv 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

Q v 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.

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Q10 DUST OF SNOW EXTRA QUESTION ANSWERS | CBSE QUESTION
BANK FOR 2022 BOARD EXAMS

P-1 Dust of Snow 920-30 words) 2 Marks Question

Q i Rationalise what you think the poet was probably doing when
the dust of snow fell on him?

Q ii What does the presence of a hemlock tree tell you about the
setting of the poem?

Qiii The dusting of snow on account of the crow helped make the
poet’s day better. How do you think the crow’s droppings might
have impacted the poet?
Hint: Understand the difference between DROPPING and DROPPINGS
DROPPING- Present Participle of DROP
DROPPINGS- waste material excreted by small animals or birds पक्षियों की
बीट
DUST OF SNOW CLASS 10 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS | CBSE QUESTION
BANK

Q11 Answer in 40-50 words (3 Marks) 40-50 words

Qi ‘Dust of Snow’ is one of Frost’s most loved poems. Elaborate why
you think this is so.

Qii The poem evokes a sense of black and white. Justify.

Q iii The crow and hemlock are usually used as negative references
in literature. How is this different in this poem?

DUST OF SNOW CLASS 10 LONG QUESTIONS | COMPETENCY-BASED

SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

Q12 Answer in 100-120 words (beyond text and across texts) 5 Marks
Q i As a crow you feel highly injured by the incorrect perception
humans have about your species. Imagine yourself to be a crow
and write your opinion about this prejudice. Make a case for

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breaking stereotypes.

Qii Imagine that Frost is of present-day and has been invited to

write for an ezine – “Teen Talk”. He chooses to draw upon his
experience with the crow and the dusting of snow to share his
thoughts on ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’. As Frost, express your
thoughts on the e-zine.

Dust of Snow By Robert Frost

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.

Dust of Snow Summary

Explanation of the Poem

Stanza 1
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Explanation
The poet, Robert Frost, recounts a small incident that changes his
mood. It seems very simple but it has a great significance. The poet
was, once, very depressed and hopeless. He was in a state of sorrow
and was lost in his thoughts. He was standing under the hemlock tree.

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Suddenly a crow, that was sitting on the tree, shook the tree and the
fine particles of snow from the tree fell on the poet.

Stanza 2
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I rued.

Explanation
When the soft and cold snow fell on the poet, it changed his mood from
the state of sadness to happiness. He started feeling soothed (peaceful
and refreshed).  This simple incident helped him enjoy the remaining
part of the day. He, thus, became happy as it saved his rest of the day
from being wasted and held in regret.

Central Idea of Poem

The ‘Dust of Snow’, by Robert Frost is a small and simple poem with a
deep meaning. It expresses the significance of small things in changing
one’s attitude. The poem explains that the little things in life can make
huge changes in our future. It also reflects that hard times in the life will
lead to the happier times if we can persist with it.

Poetic Devices Used in the Poem

Rhyme scheme : abab

Symbolism : Hemlock tree, Crow
Irony : A contrast between reality and expectation, between what is
said and what is meant, between what appears to be true and the real
truth. Rue is also a plant that is cultivated for its medicinal use. There is
a bit of irony here that the poet refers to the poisonous Hemlock and
the medicinal Rue.

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Word Meanings

dust of snow : particles of snow

hemlock tree : a poisonous plant (tree) with small white flowers

mood : a state of mind

rued : held in regret

Questions and Answers

NCERT Solutions

Thinking about the Poem (Page 14)

Question 1 : What is a ‘dust of snow’? What does the poet say has
changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed?
Question 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
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
more ‘beautiful’ tree such as 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?

Question 3 : Have there been times when you felt depressed and
hopeless? Have you experienced a similar moment that changed
your mood that day?

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Extra Questions

Extract Based Questions

Read the following extracts carefully and choose the correct option.

Question 1 : 
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

i) Who shook down the Hemlock tree?

a) Cuckoo

b) Crow

c) Mynah

d) Parrot

ii) Which tree did the crow shake?

a) Banyan

b) Mango

c) Oak

d) Hemlock

iii) What fell on the poet?

a) Dust of tree

b) Dust of snow

c) Dust of rain

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d) Dust of crow

iv) Earlier the poet was in a …….. mood.

a) happy

b) pleasant

c) gloomy

d) good

Question 2 :
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
i) What was the effect of the fall of the dust of snow on the poet?
a) It changed his mood
b) Changed his luck
c) Changed his car
d) Changed his job
ii) Under which tree was the poet standing?
a) Neem
b) Mango
c) Hemlock
d) Banyan
iii) What was saved for the poet?
a) His whole day
b) A few days
c) Some part of the day

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d) The whole week
iv) Which word is the synonym of ‘feel remorse’ or ‘regret’ as used
in the stanza?
a) Change
b) Rued
c) Mood
d) Saved

Short Questions and Answers

Question 1 : What does the poet Robert Frost want to convey

through the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?
Question 2 : How has the poet observed ‘nature’ in the poem ‘Dust
of Snow’?
Question 3 : “And saved some part of a day, I had rued”. Explain.
Question 4 : Why was the poet standing under the hemlock tree?
Question 5 : What difference do you find between Robert Frost and
other nature poets?
Long Questions and Answers

Question 1 : What are possible themes of this poem? What do you

learn from them? Cite evidence from the text to support your
answer.
.
Question 2 : 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’.
Question 3 : Small things in life make significant changes in our
life. Elaborate with reference to the poem ‘Dust of Snow’.

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