Introduction
Robert Frost's 8-line poem, Dust of Snow, is about the poet's optimism and his advice to the audience to find the good in everything, even the bad.
The poem is divided into two portions, each with four lines. The poem has an ABAB rhyme pattern. The atmosphere changes from one of hopelessness and boredom to one of happiness and hope.
Stanza 1
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Stanza 1 Summary:
The poet claims in the first stanza that he was "on the way" one day, which indicates that he was outside, ambling about in the open. He was suddenly covered in snow dust from a hemlock tree in the winter.
Here are three vital items that play key roles in society. The first is a black crow, which is frequently regarded as a sign of death, doom, and bad-omen. The crow also shook snow onto the poet rather than throwing it. So it is clear that the crow was shivering from the bitter cold, once more a sign of doom.
The snow's dust comes next. Dust conjures up images of nothingness. We have read extensively in both Christian and Islamic theologies. As a result, darkness becomes yet another ominous omen, signifying poor fortune, doom, or something horrible.
A hemlock tree is here at last. Socrates once used a toxic tree called hemlock to end his life. As a result, the hemlock tree also represents poor fortune or doom.
The poet here skillfully makes use of all these pictures to illustrate how terrible and pointless his day was. He was surrounded by a lot of bad omens, which would have destroyed the rest of his day as well.
But because the poet saw so many negative omens at once, the verse finishes with the reader contemplating the worst that might happen shortly.
The fact that the entire poem is written in a single sentence is a significant point worth highlighting. Even though the stanza ends in the fourth line, the sentence hasn't finished, which shows that the mood hasn't changed.
Stanza 2
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
Stanza 2 Summary:
We had predicted that something negative would occur in the final stanza in the preceding stanza. However, all three of these things—which are bad omens—have a positive impact on the poet. The crow, the snowy dust, and the hemlock tree, according to the poet, have caused his heart's mood to alter.
Ironically, the poet enjoys the snow's lightweight dust because it makes him feel as though a wasted portion of the day was spared. Right now, he feels wonderful.
The poem's theme is that one should never give up and weep when faced with a challenge. Even in the harshest circumstances, a person can find solace and motivation.
The poem gives a strong message to society that one should not believe in superstitious beliefs.