Dust of Snow (By Robert Frost)

Explanation of the Poem

Stanza 1
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Explanation:- In this stanza, the poet remembers a small incident that changed hid mood. Once, the poet
was in a depressed mood and was hopeless. He was standing (It is not clear whether the
poet was standing or passing (the tree) under a hemlock tree. Suddenly, a crow sitting on
the tree, shook it and some powdery 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 had rued
Explanation:- The powdery snow which fell on the poet changed his mood to happiness. Earlier he was
depressed and sad. Till now the poet had spent a part of his day in sadness, but now he
starts feeling refreshed. This incident saved some part of the poet’s day which he would
have spent in regret.

Poetic Devices Used in the Poem

❖ Rhyme scheme abab
❖ Symbolism Hemlock tree and crow are symbols that are generally associated with negative emotions and
aspects. But the post uses these symbols to bring about a positive change in him.
❖ Alliteration is the repetition of same constant sound in the nearby words.
❖ Has given my Heart
❖ And saved some part

Exam Based Questions

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) Cukoo B) Crow
C) Mynah D) Parrot

Page | 1
 ii. Which tree did the crow snake?
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 D) Dust of crow

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

A) happy B) pleasant
C) gloomy D) good

v. What is the rhyming scheme of the poem?

A) bbba B) abab
C) aabb D) abba

2. Has given my heart

A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
i. What was the poet’s mood?
A) Happy B) Sorrowful
C) Celebratory D) Nostalgic

ii. 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

iii. Under which tree was the poet standing?

A) Neem B) Mango
C) Hemlock D) Banyan

iv. What was saved for the poet?

A) His whole day B) A few days
C) Some part of the day D) The whole week

v. Which word is the synonym of ‘feel remorse’ or ‘regret’ as used in the stanza?
A) Change B) Rued
C) Mood D) Saved

Fire and Ice (By Robert Frost)

Explanation of the Poem
Page | 2
Stanza 1
Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
Explanation:- In these lines, the poet analyses the views of the people and states that there can be two
possible causes for the end of the world.
On one side there are people who believe that the world will end because of fire. Here,
fire represents the extreme desire, anger, greed etc present wither of human beings. On
the other side, there are people who favour ice. Here, ice represents the human emotions
of hatred, intolerance etc. The poet from his experience believes that the world will end
with fire. Thus, the poet remain with those people who favour fire.
Stanza 2
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Explanation:- In these lines, the poet thinks that if the world had to end twice, ice would also be able to
destroy it completely. For the poet ice (hatred) is as powerful as fire (desire). In human
beings, hatred is long-lasting and it enters into their hearts. It remains through the life.
Thus, poet thinks ice or hatred will be sufficient to bring an end of this world.

Poetic Devices Used in the Poem

❖ Alliteration Repetition of initial consonant sounds in the same line.
Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
I hold with those who favour fire
❖ Paradox A true statement but which seems untrue.
But if it had to perish twice.
❖ Symbolism
Fire-a symbol for desire
Ice-a symbol for hate
❖ Imagery A figure of speech where an object, person or situation has another meaning other than its literal
meaning.
Fire and ice carry deep connotations.
Fire elicits the feeling of heat and light, but also burning and pain.
Ice elicits the feeling of coldness, but also indifference and intolerance.
❖ Rhyme Scheme
abaabcbcb

Page | 3
 Exam Based Questions
1. Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
i. What can be the cause of world’s destruction as per these lines?
A) Fire B) Ice
C) Both (a) and (b) D) None of these

ii. According to the poet fire refers to

A) Violent desires B) passions
C) jealousy D) All of these

iii. What does ice symbolise?

A) Indifference B) Love
C) Sympathy D) Passions

iv. What message does the poet want to convey through this poem?
A) Everything is transitory B) Life is unpredictable
C) Death is inevitable D) Both (a) and (c)

v. The poetic device used in the lines is

A) Imagery B) Anaphora
C) Metaphor D) Oxymoron
2. But if it had to perish twice
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
i. What does ‘It’ here refer to?
A) Fire B) Ice
C) Earth D) World

ii. What would be a better option to end the earth?

A) Fire B) Ice
C) Both (a) and (b) D) None of these
iii. The word ‘perish’ means.
A) decay B) loose one’s life
C) appear D) improve

iv. Here the rhyming scheme used by the poet is

A) ab ab B) abc ab
C) ababa D) aabb

Page | 4
 v. What does the poet want to convey through this poem?
A) We should not be greedy
B) All humans should check their desires and hatred
C) Restrain our desires and love fellow beings
D) Both (a) and (c)

3. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice is also great
And would suffice.
i. How can ‘Ice’ bring an end to the world?
A) Ice symbolizes hatred B) Hatred can cause wars.
C) Wars can bring total destruction D) All of the above

ii. What will be the antonym of the world ‘suffice’?

A) Sufficient B) Educidate
C) Restrain D) Content

iii. What is the poet’s world view here?

A) Pessimistic B) Optimistic
C) Realistic D) Indifferent

iv. Which figure of speech is used in the line ‘But if it had to perish twice’.
A) Metaphor B) Alliteration
C) Paradox D) Similie

v. What is the rhyming scheme of the given stanza?

A) ababa B) abbab
C) abcbc D) ababc

A Tiger in the Zoo (By Robert Frost)

Explanation of the Poem
Stanza 1
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
Word Meanings
Stalks – stride, to move quietly and slowly in a threatening way; Vivid – bright and clear; Pads the soft part
under the foot of the tiger; Rage – anger
Page | 5
Explanation:- In these lines, the poet is describing a tiger in a cage.
The tiger with bright and clear stripes moves inside the cage. The cage is very small so
the tiger can hardly take a few steps along its length. His pads are soft like velvet so no
one can hear the sound of his footsteps. Inspite of being the most powerful creature, he
is imprisoned inside a cage. This situation has made the tiger angry. But he is keeping
quiet as he knows that he is helpless in the situation.
Stanza 2
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding though long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
Word Meanings
Lurking – hiding; Sliding – moving, walking with ease; Plump – fat
Explanation:- In these lines, the poet is filled with sorrow for the caged tiger. He feels that a tiger should
be free in his natural habitat.
He should be hiding in the shadows and quietly moving through the long grass near the
water hole. He should be waiting for a fat and healthy deer to pass, in the hope of getting
a heavy meal. The poet wants to convey that the actual life of a tiger is in a jungle and
not in a cage.
Stanza 3
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
Word Meanings
Snarling – growling or roaring; Baring – showing; Fangs – two long sharp teeth at the front of the mouths
of some animals; Claws – Paw; nails; Terrorising – frightening or threatening
Explanation:- In these lines, the poet explains what a tiger in his natural habitat should be doing.
According to him, a free tiger should be roaring around the houses located at the jungle’s
edge. He should be showing high sharp white teeth and his claws to terrorise the villagers.
Stanza 4
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.

Page | 6
Word Meanings
Concrete cell – a very small and unpleasant cage made of cement and stone; Stalking – moving slowly and
quietly in a threatening way
Explanation:- In these lines, the poet’s focus returns back to the angry tiger in the cage. The poet
explains that unlike the tiger in the jungle, this tiger is not free. He is locked in the
concrete cell.
His strength and power is of no use, behind the bars of the cage. He is moving in his cage
ignoring the visitors who are continuously visiting to have a look at him.
Stanza 5
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
Word Meanings
Patrolling – to go around an area at regular times to check that it is safe; Brilliant – very bright
Explanation:- In these lines, the poet says that even at night the tiger is disturbed. He hears the last
sound of the patrolling cars of the zoo officials. The tiger stares at the brilliant stars
shining brightly in the sky with his brilliant eyes which hopes for freedom.

Poetic Devices Used in the Poem

❖ Repetition Repetition of words/phrases in the same line.
velvet quiet, quiet rage
brilliant eyes, brilliant stars
❖ Alliteration Repetition of initial consonant sounds in the same line.
He stalks in his vivid stripes
But he’s locked in a concrete cell
❖ Personification Attributing human qualities to non-human things.
Tiger is referred as ‘he’
❖ Metaphor comparison of two ideas without using ‘like’ and as.’
Pads of velvet
❖ Rhyme
The rhymes scheme for first, second and fifth stanza is abcb and for third and fourth stanza is abcd.

Exam Based Questions

1. He stalks in his vivid stripes,
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
Page | 7
 i. What has been personified in the given lines?
A) Tiger B) Leopard
C) Lion D) Hyena

ii. Where is the tiger at present?

A) In the forest B) In a circus
C) In a cage D) In a room

iii. Mention any one quality of the animal under reference.

A) Quiet B) Desperate
C) Vivid stripes of his body D) Roaring

iv. Which word in the stanza may also mean graphic or picturesque
A) Strips B) Velvet
C) Quiet D) Vivid

v. Why is the tiger in ‘quite rage’?

A) Movement restricted B) Freedom curtailed
C) Not fed properly D) Both (a) and (b)

2. He should be lurking in shadow,

Sliding the water hole
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
i. According to the extract, the poet wishes for the tiger to be ‘sliding’ through the foliage as this
would
A) assist in keeping the prey unsuspecting of the predator’s sound.
B) aid in camouflaging the presence of the predator before it rushes in.
C) help the predator pounce on the prey comfortably without getting tired.
D) support the predator’s vision as it eyes its prey.

ii. Which fact DOES NOT connect with the significance of the water hole for the tiger?
A) Many tigers chase prey into the water and holds the victim’s head under water until it
drowns.
B) Prey feed in the water on water-lilies and often wander into the middle of the water hole,
where they are vulnerable and easy for the tiger to kill.
C) Prey that has quenched its thirst ensures consumption of hydrated meat for the tiger.
D) Chasing the panicked prey from shallow to deep water where the tiger grabs it.

iii. Pick the option that DOES NOT use ‘lurking’ correctly to fill in the blank.
A) The thug was ……….. in the alley late evening, for unsuspecting passers-by.
B) They hyena was ………. in its den after a good meal.
C) The detective cautioned her team about the ………. Dangers likely to impact the case.
D) The prejudices ……….. beneath the surface create misunderstandings.

Page | 8
iv. ‘Shadow’ here, refers to the shadow of
A) the tiger B) long grass
C) water hole D) deer

v. Pick the phrase that DOES NOT suggest that the forest in the extract is lush.
A) long grass B) the water hole
C) plump deer D) lurking in shadow

Page | 9
 Answer Key

Dust of Snow (By Robert Frost)

1.
i. B ii. D iii. B iv. C v. B

2.
i. B ii. A iii. C iv. C v. B

Fire and Ice (By Robert Frost)

1.
i. C ii. D iii. A iv. D v. B

2.
i. D ii. C iii. A iv. C v. D

A Tiger in the Zoo (By Robert Frost)

1.
i. A ii. A iii. C iv. D v. D

2.
i. A ii. C iii. B iv. B v. D

Page | 10