NCERT Solution for Class 10 English : First Flight – Poem 1 Dust of Snow

NCERT solution is important for student to cover entire chapter. NCERT solution Poem will help the student to understand the answers of Intext questions and Exercise Questions.

Thinking About the Poem

This poem presents a moment that seems simple, but has a larger significance. [Compare this other quotation from Robert Frost: “Always, always a larger significance… A little thing touches a larger thing.”]

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. 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.

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 a 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 a more ‘beautiful’ tree such as a 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?
Answer. (i) Birds with unique character and qualities are usually named in poems. No, a crow is not usually mentioned in poems. It is because a crow can be associated with dark and symbolises sorrow. When I think of a crow, images of some bad happenings come to my mind.
(ii) ‘A hemlock tree’ is a poisonous tree with small white flowers. The poet doesn’t write about a more beautiful tree as he wanted to express the darker side of the nature to reflect the bad mood of the poet. On the other hand, the beautiful trees like such as maple, or oak, or pine reflects the brighter side of the nature.
(iii) The ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent sorrow. The snow of dust that the crow shakes off from hemlock tree stands for joy. Frost has represented nature in a very unconventional manner in this poem. He has expressed his feelings through ‘hemlock tree’ and crow which symbolises sorrow.

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. Yes, there have been few times when I have felt depressed and hopeless. Yes, I have experienced the similiar moment in my life once. It so happened that I had to reach Delhi to appear for an interview but I missied my train. I was totally hopeless and depressed as it was a matter of my career. Suddenly, I met one of my friend who was going to Delhi by his car. He helped me to reach for the interview, where I was selected for the job. My depression turned into joy.