Dust of Snow

Date:
Entry Ticket:
Which of the following sentences rightly describes the poetic device synecdoche?
(a) A literary technique in which a part of something is used to refer to the whole.
(b) It uses the whole to refer to a part.
1. a only 3. b only
2. a and b 4. None of the above
Learning Objectives:
Draft an article in 120 - 150 words on the basis of the theme, setting and literary elements.
Author Bio: Robert Frost
 Won on four Pulitzer prizes for Poetry.
 His poetry remains significant in today’s literary world too.
 Some of his famous poems include “The Gift Outright,” “Stopping by Woods on a
Snowy Evening,” “Birches,” “Mending Wall” and “The Road Not Taken”.
Big Ideas:
*Even a small incident or action may prove to be of larger significance.
*Curative power of nature
New Vocabulary:
 Hemlock (noun): Large branching herb native to Eurasia and Africa having large
fernlike leaves and white flowers; usually found in damp habitats; all parts extremely
poisonous.
 Rued (verb): Feel sorry for.
My Reading Response:
 Though the poem is very brief, it has a significant meaning. The poet was in a
sorrowful mood and was under a hemlock tree. It was the winter season and there was
snow all around. A crow was sitting on the same tree. The crow suddenly perches on
top of the tree and shakes down the dust of snow on the poet. When a small particle of
snow fell on the poet, he was awakened from his thoughts and then noticed the simple
activity going around him. A simple act of the crow shook of the pessimism and
changed the poet's mood. He suddenly realised that he had wasted his time wallowing
in self-pity, and resolved to utilise the remaining day in doing some useful tasks. This
realisation fills him with positive energy. The hemlock which is known for its
poisonous fruits, combined with ominous crow, ironically, became the source of
lightening up the disturbed mind of the poet.
 The entire poem is an enjambment. It also makes use of alliteration, metaphor,
synecdoche, visual imagery and symbolism.
  The poet is trying to break the stereotypes that consider a crow and a hemlock tree as
inauspicious.
 The speaker's mood is lifted by the simple beauty of the natural world.
My Learning:
1. What is a "dust of snow"? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the
poet's mood changed?
Discussion points: The 'dust of snow' - fine particles or flakes of snow (comparison –
metaphor). The sudden shower of snow - changed the poet's mood - sad to happy - refreshed
– decided to enjoy the rest of the day.
2. 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?
Discussion points: The crow and hemlock tree - sorrow and depression felt by the poet in this
materialistic world. The dust of snow - natural joy and energy(Symbolism). The dust of snow
that the crow shakes off – process - passing through the sad and depressing moments -
entering into the time full of joy and optimism.
3. How has the poet observed nature in the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’?
(CBSE question)
Discussion points: Nature – positive medium of change for poet.
Sorrowful and depressive mood – change – due to a simple action …
Nature – inspiration.
4. Our attitude towards a situation evokes both negative and positive responses. Analyse this
with reference to the poem, 'Dust of Snow' to bring out the inherent valuable lessons.
Discussion points: Every situation in life throws – can evokes both positive and negative
responses; poet - sorrowful mood - crow shook down the 'dust of snow' – change –
optimistic; Now, being in a sorrowful or bad mood already, the poet could have got angry at
the crow also – however - becomes a positive medium- cheerful - at least for a few moments.
A message –instead of seeing negative side – look for positive aspects.
One’s mind set/attitude – affects the outcome.

HOTS Question
The poem evokes a sense of black and white. Justify. (CBSE question)
Discussion points:
Visual contrast – dark bird and white snow.
Also, symbolise opposing emotions – crow = despair/darkness, snow = renewal.
Shift in mood – from despair to hope/healing.
Black and white - poem's thematic exploration of contrast.
My Challenges:
Attempt both the challenges.
Challenge 1: (Peer assessment)
1. The line “dust of snow” can be considered as an example of:
(i) Simile

(ii) Metaphor

(iii) Personification

(iv) Metonymy

2. 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.

(i) Has given my heart/A change of mood

(ii) The way a crow/ Shook down on me

(iii) The dust of snow/From a hemlock tree

(iv) And saved some part/Of a day I had rued

Challenge 2: Imagine that Frost is of present day and has been invited to write for an e-zine –
‘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 for
the e-zine. (CBSE question)
Reflections:
Text connections
Text to self: Positive attitude even in desperate situations, Enjoy the little things, Control of
negative emotions
Text to text: Lifestyle of people in Polar regions(Ballad: A Legend of the Northland),
Phytomorphology (Co-curricular link - CCL)
Text to world: Ayurveda in healing body and mind, Pet therapy (Real life link - RL)

Exit Ticket
What are three things you learned, two things you’re still curious about, and one thing you
don’t understand?
Answers:
Entry ticket: Option 2
Challenge 1: ii, i