Dust of Snow NCERT Solutions Class 10 PDF Download 2026

Ans:
1. Dust of snow refers to the fine, powdery particles or flakes of snow that settle on surfaces.
2. The sudden shower of these fine snowflakes falling on him, caused by a crow shaking the branch of a hemlock tree, changed his mood.
3. The poet's mood changed from a state of deep sadness and regret to a state of joy and appreciation. He felt refreshed and thankful that the rest of his day was saved from being ruined.

Ans:
(i) Usually, poets name beautiful or melodious birds like nightingales, skylarks, cuckoos, or peacocks. A crow is rarely mentioned in poetry because it is traditionally associated with harshness, bad omens, and death. Thinking of a crow usually brings images of darkness and sorrow.
(ii) A hemlock tree is a poisonous plant with small white flowers. Frost chose this over a beautiful maple, oak, or pine because he wanted to symbolize his own dark, depressive, and "poisonous" mood at the beginning of the poem.
(iii) The 'crow' and 'hemlock' represent sorrow and depression. However, the 'dust of snow' stands for natural joy, energy, and the refreshing transformation that nature can bring, proving that even negative elements can act as carriers of happiness.

Ans: The poet was standing under a hemlock tree. His state of mind was deeply depressive, sorrowful, and full of regret. He was having a terrible day and felt that his entire day was ruined.

Ans: The crow, sitting on a branch of the hemlock tree, shook the branch. This movement caused the fine particles of snow (dust of snow) resting on the leaves to fall down onto the poet.

Ans: The word 'rued' means held in regret. The poet uses it to express that before the snow fell on him, he was deeply regretting the day, feeling that he had wasted it in sorrow and depression.

Ans: The poem consists of two stanzas. The rhyme scheme of the entire poem is abab cdcd.

Ans: The poetic device used is Alliteration. The consonant sound 'h' is repeated closely in the words "Has" and "heart".

Ans: After the dust of snow fell on him, his mood was instantly uplifted. Instead of wallowing in regret, he spent the rest of his day happily, feeling grateful that at least some part of his day was saved.

Ans: The poem perfectly illustrates how a trivial, insignificant event can have a massive psychological impact. The poet was lost in profound sorrow, regretting his day. However, a very ordinary event—a crow shaking a branch and making some snow fall—was enough to break his train of depressive thoughts. The cold, refreshing touch of the snow instantly connected him back to nature, filling him with joy. It teaches us that we do not always need grand gestures or events to find happiness; sometimes, the smallest natural occurrences hold the power to save our day and heal our minds.

Ans: Traditionally, poets use beautiful and pleasant elements of nature, like spring, blooming flowers, nightingales, or majestic pine trees, to symbolize joy and healing. Frost, however, takes an unconventional route. He chooses a harsh winter setting, a "crow" (a symbol of bad omens and harshness), and a "hemlock tree" (a poisonous plant symbolizing death). By using these dark symbols to bring about a positive change in his mood, Frost powerfully conveys that nature in all its forms—even the seemingly ugly or dangerous ones—has an inherent capacity to bless and heal humanity.

Ans: The central theme of the poem is the healing power of nature and the significance of small events. It emphasizes that human sorrow and regret are temporary and can be washed away by connecting with the natural world. Another underlying theme is breaking stereotypes. Society labels crows and hemlock trees as negative, but the poet shows that joy can be derived from anything, proving that nothing in nature is inherently bad or exclusively reserved for sorrow.

Ans: Initially, the poet's attitude was entirely negative; he had surrendered to his sorrow and decided his day was "rued." However, when the snow fell on him, he had a choice: he could have gotten angry at the crow for dropping cold snow on him, worsening his day. Instead, he chose to adopt a positive attitude. He embraced the sudden chill as a refreshing wake-up call, allowing it to lift his spirits. This proves that while we cannot control external events, our positive attitude towards them dictates whether they ruin our day or save it.

Ans: 'Me' refers to the poet, Robert Frost. He is standing under a poisonous hemlock tree, enveloped in a sad and regretful state of mind.

Ans: The poet's mood changed from being deeply sorrowful, pessimistic, and regretful to becoming happy, refreshed, and optimistic for the remainder of the day.

Ans: Yes, I strongly agree. The modern world is full of stress, causing mental exhaustion. The poet was experiencing a similar emotional low. However, interacting with nature—feeling the cold snow falling from a tree—acted as immediate therapy. Nature demands nothing and provides a silent, soothing presence that can instantly heal a troubled mind, exactly as it cured the poet's gloom.

Ans: The poet did not choose a beautiful tree because he wanted the physical setting of the poem to perfectly mirror his internal mental state. He was feeling depressed and "poisoned" by regret, which is why the poisonous hemlock tree was the most appropriate choice.

Ans: The falling of the snow symbolizes a sudden awakening or a divine intervention that snaps a person out of a trance of negativity. It represents purification and the washing away of the heavy burden of sorrow from the poet's heart.