Dust of Snow 14 ROBERT FROST Fire and Ice 15 ROBERT FROST

Poem 1: Dust of Snow

Poet: Robert Frost
Textbook Page No.: 14

Summary (in Simple Words)

The poem describes a small, simple moment that changes the speaker’s mood. The poet is feeling sad and hopeless, but when a crow shakes snow from a hemlock tree and it falls on him, his mood suddenly improves. This tiny event brings him joy and saves the rest of his day.

Even something as ordinary or negative as a crow or snow can have a positive effect. Nature, even in small ways, can heal us.

Central Idea / Theme

• The poem "Dust of Snow" tells us that even small things in life can make a big difference. The poet was feeling sad and hopeless, but a simple act of nature — when a crow shook snow from a hemlock tree onto him — changed his mood. This small event made him feel better and helped him enjoy the rest of the day. The poet wants to say that nature has the power to heal us, and sometimes, unexpected things can bring us happiness. Even things that we usually think are bad, like a crow or a poisonous tree, can have a positive effect. The poem teaches us that we should not ignore the little joys of life, because they can make our day better.

Word Meanings

Word	Meaning
Dust of snow	Light snowflakes falling like dust
Hemlock tree	A poisonous tree (symbol of negativity or sadness)
Rued	Regretted
Saved some part of a day I had rued	Improved part of the day which was earlier wasted or regretted

NCERT Book Questions and Answers

Q1. What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed?

Answer:
A “dust of snow” refers to the light snowflakes that fall like tiny particles of dust. The poet says that the snow falling from a hemlock tree, possibly shaken by a crow, changed his mood. He was feeling depressed or regretful, but after this simple event, he felt refreshed and positive.

Q2. How does Frost present nature in this poem?

Answer:
Frost shows that nature, even its darker or negative sides (like a crow or a poisonous tree), can bring beauty, healing, and joy. He reminds us that positive experiences can come from unlikely sources.

Poem 2: Fire and Ice

Poet: Robert Frost
Textbook Page No.: 15

Summary

This poem talks about the possible end of the world. The poet presents two opposing views: one group believes it will end in fire (symbolizing desire, greed, passion), while another thinks it will end in ice (symbolizing hatred, coldness, indifference).

The poet says he agrees with both. He has seen how desire and hatred can destroy people. According to him, either of them is powerful enough to bring destruction.

Central Idea / Theme

• The poem "Fire and Ice" is about how the world might end, and what could cause its destruction. The poet talks about two strong feelings — fire, which means desire or greed, and ice, which means hatred or coldness. He says that both emotions are dangerous. People who are full of desire may destroy the world by always wanting more, and people who are full of hate can also destroy it by being cruel and uncaring. The poet has seen how both emotions hurt people, and he believes that either one could destroy the world. The central idea is that human emotions, if not controlled, can cause great damage, and we must be careful about how we feel and act.

Word Meanings

Word	Meaning
Desire	A strong feeling of wanting something
Perish	To die or be destroyed
Favor	Support or agree with
Suffice	Be enough or sufficient
Ice	Symbol of hate, indifference, coldness
Fire	Symbol of desire, greed, passion

NCERT Book Questions and Answers

Q1. There are many ideas about how the world will ‘end’. Do you think the world will end someday? Have you ever thought what would happen if the sun got so hot that it 'burst' or grew colder and colder?

Answer (Example Response):
Yes, science also tells us that the world could end in many ways. If the sun becomes too hot, life on Earth will become impossible. If it grows colder, we might freeze. It’s possible that human actions like wars, pollution, or climate change could also cause the end of the world.

Q2. For Frost, what do ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for?

Answer:
In the poem, ‘fire’ stands for desire—like greed, lust, and uncontrolled passion. ‘Ice’ stands for hatred—cold feelings, anger, and indifference. Both are dangerous emotions that can destroy the world.

Q3. What is the message of the poem?

Answer:
The poem warns us that both extreme desire and hatred are powerful enough to cause destruction. The poet wants us to avoid such intense emotions, and instead, live with balance and self-control.

Moral / Message of Both Poems

Poem	Message
Dust of Snow	Small, simple things in life can have a big positive impact.
Fire and Ice	Extreme emotions like desire and hatred can destroy the world—and us. We should control our feelings.

Poem 1: Dust of Snow – Figures of Speech

 Page 14 – NCERT First Flight

 1. Alliteration

Definition: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

 Example:

"Has given my heart"
"h" sound repeated.
"And saved some part"
"s" sound repeated.

 2. Symbolism

Definition: Using objects or elements to represent deeper meanings.

 Examples:

• Crow – Symbol of bad omen or darkness.

• Hemlock tree – Symbol of poison, death, or sorrow.

• Dust of snow – Symbol of hope, change, or positivity.

 3. Imagery

Definition: Creating pictures in the reader’s mind using descriptive language.

 Example:

"The way a crow / Shook down on me / The dust of snow"
We can imagine snow falling from a tree due to the movement of a crow.

 4. Inversion (Anastrophe)

Definition: Changing the usual word order for poetic effect.

🔹 Example:

"Has given my heart / A change of mood"
Instead of "has changed my mood", the poet inverts the sentence for rhythm.

 5. Irony

Definition: A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.

 Example:
A crow and hemlock tree (both usually negative symbols) bring positive change in mood.

Poem 2: Fire and Ice – Figures of Speech

 Page 15 – NCERT First Flight

 1. Symbolism

Definition: Using one thing to represent a deeper meaning.

🔹 Examples:

• Fire = Desire, greed, passion, anger

• Ice = Hatred, indifference, coldness of heart

 2. Alliteration

Definition: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

 Examples:

"Some say..." → "s" sound repeated
"World will..." → "w" sound repeated

 3. Imagery

Definition: Language that appeals to the senses and creates mental images.

 Examples:

• "Fire" brings the image of burning, destruction.

• "Ice" brings the image of cold, freezing, stillness.

 4. Paradox

Definition: A statement that seems self-contradictory but has truth.

🔹 Example:
The idea that both fire and ice, though opposite, can destroy the world is paradoxical—but meaningful.

 5. Enjambment

Definition: When a sentence or phrase continues beyond the end of a line without a pause.

Example:

"From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire."
(No punctuation at the end of the first line; the sentence continues.)

 6. Metaphor

Definition: A comparison made without using "like" or "as".

 Example:
The entire poem uses fire and ice as metaphors for human emotions.

Poem	Figures of Speech
Dust of Snow	Alliteration, Symbolism, Imagery, Inversion, Irony
Fire and Ice	Symbolism, Alliteration, Imagery, Paradox, Enjambment, Metaphor