English Language Teaching Institute IASE Bikaner presents EContents

English Language Teaching Institute IASE, Bikaner presents E-Contents for class X First Flight

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Dust of Snow By ROBERT FROST

Glossary Hemlock --a type of poison made from a plant which has small white flowers and divided leaves Rued--- to feel sorry about an event and wish it had not happened; regret (OLD USE OR LITERARY )

Poem The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued.

Main Idea of dust of snow by Robert Frost Dust of snow is a beautiful poem written by the famous poet Robert Frost. Though the poem is very brief but has a significant meaning. this poem stands for guiding a person who has lost all hopes and is very sad. As in the poem, the falling of dust of snow has change the mood of the poet. The poet was sitting under a hemlock tree and was quit upset. The very small incident changed his sad mood into happy mood. So it teaches us that we should not be desperate but there is always an opportunity to change sad to happy mood. : )

Fire and Ice By Robert Frost

Glossary Suffice-- to be enough to perish-- to die, especially in an accident or by being killed, or to be destroyed: Destruction-- when something is destroyed:

FIRE ------DESIRE--- to want something, especially strongly:

ICE----HATE ----- to dislike someone or something very much:

Main idea of the poem It doesn't really matter how the world will end as long as it ends. It can be applied to relationships as well. A relationship can end in an angry argument(fire) or it can end with a slow dying of feelings(ice).

Poem Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favour fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

Fire and ice comments on the many issues that mankind is surrounded with. Frost addresses issues that can be looked upon at a universal level. this is evident in the first few words. "some say" He is addressing all people in general and is boldly stating that 'some say. . . ' but uses these words cleverly to keep the reader thinking. it is obvious that fire represents hate and ice represent desire. the desires of mankind, being, money, pleasures and greed. It can be said that this will lead to greediness, therefore causing

1. What is a “dust of snow”? What does the poet say has changed his mood? How has the poet’s mood changed? A “dust of snow” could mean a freckle of snow or it could also refer to the little white flowers that can be found on hemlock tree. This “dust of snow” changed the poet’s mood. The poet’s mood changed from that of dismay to joy. He was holding the day in regret when this dust of snow fell on him and this simple little thing brought him some joy.

Q 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 Frost has presented nature in quite an unconventional manner. While in other nature poems we come across birds such as nightingales or sparrows, Frost has used a crow in this poem. A crow can be associated with something dark, black, and foreboding. That is why other poets usually mention singing nightingales or beautiful white doves in their poems. Also, the poet has written about a hemlock tree, which is a poisonous tree. He has not written about a more beautiful tree such as a maple, or oak, or pine because these trees symbolise beauty and happiness. Frost wanted to symbolise the feelings of sadness and regret, which is why he has used a hemlock tree. The crow and the hemlock tree represent sorrow. The dust of snow that is shaken off the hemlock tree by the crow stands for joy that Frost experiences. He has, therefore, used an unconventional tree and bird in order to contrast them with joy in the form of snow.

Question Fire and Ice Answer: ‘Fire’ stands for greed, avarice, lust, conflict and fury. ‘Ice’ stands for cruelty, intolerance, rigidity, insensitivity, coldness, indifference and hatred.

What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem? The rhyme scheme of the poem is as follows: 1 st stanza: a b a a 2 nd stanza: a b a The contrasting ideas of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are presented using this rhyme scheme. He mentions that both fire and ice are probable ends of this world. While he talks about how fire represents desire and can therefore be a cause of the end of the world, he also mentions ice in between to symbolise that the coldness and indifference towards one another will also be enough to end the world. In the second stanza, he says that he knows of enough hate in the world to be sure that even destruction through ice would be sufficient to bring about the end of the world.

Prepared by Poonam Yadav Senior Teacher of English GGSSS, LBD, Raghunathsar Kuan, Bikaner Mob: 01512231253 Rajendra Prasad Lecturer in English GSSS, Suratgarh (Sri Ganganagar) Mob: 9929842897

Academic Support Ram Gopal Sharma Chief Resource Person ELTI, IASE, Bikaner Edited by Rameshwar Lal Basera Reader, ELTI, IASE, Bikaner Facilitated by Yashoda Khatri Resource Person, ELTI, IASE, Bikaner Issued by CM Gangwal Director ELTI, IASE, Bikaner

English Language Teaching Institute IASE Campus, Opp Dr. Karni Singh Stadium Bikaner (Rajasthan) India 334001 Material available for download at http: //eltirajasthan. wordpress. com eltirajasthan@gmail. com Also visit us eltirajasthan @eltirajasthan