1.DUST OF SNOW(POEM )
BY ROBERT FROST
1. What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed?
The ‘dust of snow’ means the fine particles or flakes of snow. The sudden shower in the form of the dust of snow changed the poet’s mood. The poet’s mood changed from sad to happy. He felt refreshed and wanted to enjoy the rest of the day.
2. What are the birds that are usually named in poems? Do you think the crow is often mentioned in poems? What images come to your mind when you think of a crow?
Generally, poets take the birds and trees which are known for their beauty and good qualities like peacock, parrot, nightingale and trees full of beautiful flowers and fruits, etc. But here Frost chose a crow, which is not often used in poems. Crow is black in colour with a very harsh voice and is believed to be a symbol of a bad omen. Thinking of a crow brings very depressing and sorrowful pictures to our minds.
3. What is the poet trying to convey through the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?
The poet is trying to convey that sometimes certain moments or actions which are simple have larger significance. They can change the mood or life of a person
4. Explain the symbols used in the poem ‘Dust of snow’
The ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ trees represent sorrow and evil. The dust of snow stands for ‘natural joy’. It means that the sad day is going to change into something joyful for the poet
5. what is the gist of the poem ‘Dust of snow’?
The poet is upset and sitting under the hemlock tree. Suddenly a crow, sitting on the tree and fine particles of the snow from the tree falls on the poet. The soft and cold touch of snow changes the poet’s mood from sad to happy. By this, the poem reiterates that the little things in life can make huge changes in our future.
2. Fire and Ice
Robert Forst
Answer the following:
1. What do the people say about the ending of the world? What is the poet's stand?
The two ideas mentioned are that the world will end in fire or in ice. Though the poet thinks both are great for destruction, yet he seems to favour the idea of the destruction of the world in a fire little more than in ice
2. How will the world end twice?
According to the poet, the world will end due to the 'Fire' which symbolises desire. But if the world has to end twice then it will be due to the hatred, symbolised by 'Ice'. The poet feels that there is enough hatred in the world that is spreading among the people. The hatred will end the world one day.
3. What is the deeper meaning given in the poem 'fire and ice'?
Frost presents the two of the darkest traits of humanity: the capacity to hate and the capacity to be consumed by lust or desire. Of the two, he attributes the greater of the two evils, is desire. However, he lessens the relative importance of hatred but still presents it as having the ability to lead to the destruction of the world if it were to happen for a second time.
4. What do 'Fire and Ice' symbolise?
The word 'Fire' stands for desire. In the poem, it indicates all types of greed and lust. The 'Ice' in the poem indicates hatred and indifference which is as cold as 'Ice'.
5. What is the theme of the poem 'Fire and Ice'?
The theme of Robert Frost's poem is the destructive potential of hatred and desire. The crystal clear message that the poet is trying to give is that nothing in this world is eternal. So we must restrain our desires and love our fellow beings.
