Chapter 1: Dust of Snow

Important questions — the ones the board asked most (7)

1. Q1Long answer6 marksAsked: 2025

   10. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words : I. Robert Frost’s view of nature changes when he talks about it positively in ‘Dust of Snow’, but negatively in ‘Fire and Ice’. Justify the statement. II. Compare and contrast the role of faith between the young Seagull from the ‘Two Stories about Flying’ and Lencho from ‘A Letter to God’.

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Model answer · Frost's contrasting view of nature

   1. 1.Robert Frost shows nature as a healing force in 'Dust of Snow' but as a destructive force in 'Fire and Ice'. In 'Dust of Snow', nature changes the poet. He is sad and has a day he "had rued". Then a crow shakes down "the dust of snow" on him from a hemlock tree. This small moment gives his heart "a change of mood" and saves the rest of his day. The crow and the hemlock inspire a change of heart in the poet. Frost also turns the usual symbols around. A crow usually stands for bad luck and gloom, and the hemlock is a poisonous tree, yet here they bring him joy and hope. As Frost puts it, "A little thing touches a larger thing." In 'Fire and Ice', however, nature stands for the destructive power of human emotions that could make the world "perish". Fire is compared to desire, lust and greed. These are all-consuming emotions, and the poet holds "with those who favour fire". Ice stands for hatred, indifference, coldness and rigidity. Frost says that "for destruction ice / Is also great / And would suffice." So the same nature that heals in one poem destroys in the other, and this justifies the statement.6 marks

   • Say that in 'Dust of Snow' the crow and the hemlock, usually symbols of gloom and poison, bring "a change of mood".
   • Write what each stands for: fire stands for desire, lust and greed, and ice stands for hatred, indifference and rigidity.
   • Give at least one point from each poem, using the poet's own lines as proof.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

2. Q2Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

   How does the short structure of poem ‘Dust of Snow’ enhance its message about emotional renewal ? Support your answer briefly.

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 55 s

   Model answer · Dust of Snow, structure and theme

   1. 1.The short structure of 'Dust of Snow' makes its message stronger because the brevity of the poem mirrors how tiny moments can uplift mood. The whole poem is just eight short, crisp lines in one sentence. This quick movement reflects a sudden emotional change. A small act shifts the poet's mood: a crow shook down "the dust of snow" from a hemlock tree, and this gave his heart "a change of mood". So the poet changes from being regretful about "a day I had rued" to being hopeful, since the moment "saved some part" of that day. Through minimal expression the poem emphasises optimism and shows Frost's idea that "A little thing touches a larger thing."3 marks

   • Link the short form to the message by writing that the brevity of the poem "mirrors how tiny moments can uplift mood".
   • Name the small act, the crow shaking down "the dust of snow" from a hemlock tree, as the thing that brings the "change of mood".
   • Show the change in the poet: he goes from being regretful about "a day I had rued" to being hopeful.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

3. Q3Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

   In ‘Dust of Snow’, what role does the unexpected moment play in shifting the speaker’s mood ?

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 55 s

   Model answer · Dust of Snow, mood change

   1. 1.In 'Dust of Snow', the unexpected moment is what turns the speaker's mood around. He is having a day he had "rued", that is, held in regret. Then a crow sitting on a hemlock tree suddenly shakes down a dust of snow on him. This sudden, simple event transforms his mood and gives his heart "a change of mood". It replaces his regret with a sense of relief and hope, and it "saved some part" of his day. The moment is unplanned, so nature's unpredictability brings him emotional renewal. Even the crow and the poisonous hemlock, which usually stand for sorrow, end up bringing him joy. The poem shows that small moments can uplift mood. As Frost says, "A little thing touches a larger thing."3 marks

   • Write at least two of these effects of the moment: "This sudden, simple event transforms his mood", "nature's unpredictability brings him emotional renewal", "replaces his regret with a sense of relief and hope" and "small moments can uplift mood".
   • Explain that "rued" means "held in regret" so that the change of mood is clear.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

4. Q4Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

   What happened to the poet when a dust of snow fell on him ? (Dust of Snow)

   How the model answer begins

   1. The dust of snow changed the poet's mood. He had been sad and depressed when a crow shook down the dust of snow on him from a hemlock tree. The cool touch of the snow shook off his sadness and depression and made him…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
5. Q5Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

   What changes the mood of the poet in the poem 'Dust of Snow'?

   How the model answer begins

   1. The poet's mood changes when a crow sitting on a hemlock tree shakes down the dust of snow on him. Before this, the poet was sad and depressed and regretted the day, calling it "a day I had rued". The falling snow…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
6. Q6Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

   What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’ initially ? What images are used by the poet to bring about the effect ? Comment.

   How the model answer begins

   1. At the start of the poem 'Dust of Snow', the poet is in a sad, depressed and negative mood. He is gloomy and regretful, and he feels he has wasted the day. He calls it a day he "had rued", which means a day held in…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →
7. Q7Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

   How far would you agree that one's positivity can bring in a spark of brightness even in adverse circumstances?

   How the model answer begins

   1. I fully agree that positivity can bring a spark of brightness even in adverse circumstances, because a positive attitude helps a person see opportunities where others see problems. In Robert Frost's poem "Dust of Snow",…

   The full answer from Medha Ma’am →

Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "Dust of Snow" carry in CBSE Class 10 English?

In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 1 marks and about 0 questions a year; by marks it ranks 26 in English.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "Dust of Snow"?

The 7 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 7 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the AskMedha app.

Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?

Yes. CBSE publishes its marking schemes; every model answer here is written point by point to the marks the board’s own scheme gives, and checked by a second, independent model.