Dust+of+Snow-+C.White

Dust of Snow

Dust of Snow by Robert Frost - also known for writing "Road Not Taken"

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Dust of Snow read by his daughter Lesley Frost 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.

Robert Frost

Who was the man? Robert Frost was born on March 26, 1874. He moved to New England at the age of eleven and became interested in reading and writing poetry. He later returned to America and during his high school and further extended his love in poetry. As valedictorian of his class, he attended classes at Dartmouth College in 1892, and later at Harvard, though he never received his degree due to financial and health issues. In 1912, he moved to England to further his career, and published his first book of poems, A Boy's Will. However, when World War I broke out, he moved his family back to America. His fame, luckily, had spread and was welcomed by the writing community. He later taught at several colleges, received four Pulitzer Prizes for his works, and more than 40 other honorary titles. Including the opportunity to read a poem at John F. Kennedy's inauguration. The inspiration for this poem was the landscape around his home, for he lived in the East Coast of the United States.

TIME **T**heme: The theme of this poem is that one must always think before you act for you never know what the repercussions would be. And that sometimes it is best to just let the past go.


 * I ** magery: Robert Frost used no metaphors, similes, or adjectives, save "hemlock." However, you can picture an evergreen tree in a snowy scene with a crow in it thanks to the familiarity, connotation, and contrast of the black crow against the white landscape. Which symbolizes revenge in a pure landscape and all the problems it can cause.


 * M ** eter: This poem is a dimeter poem which means each line has two main parts- "the WAY a CROW" "shook DOWN on ME" etc. Each stanza is style in an abab format as well.

**E**motion: This poem is an inspirational poem that goes from something bad that happens to a good ending. the mood shift is key to this poem and only helps to emphasize the theme of the poem. The use of the crow gives the sense of evil, hatred, bad omens. The snowy winter atmosphere gives an airy feeling and a happier mood. So you have the black evil crow in against this white background and how its presence there affects the entire scene.

Questions **1. Why does the author create the sense of imagery without any of the common ways of depicting imagery?** **A.** The feeling of familiarity with the scene makes a person feel more in depth with the story **B.** It was easier than using superfluous language **C.** Wanted the story to feel more at home **D.** To depict a new style of writing **E.** It would better connect to an everyday man

**2. What tone does the dimeter style depict?** **A.** Enlightening **B.** Spooky **C.** Powerful **D.** Depressed **E.** Hastily Spoken

**3. What does the crow most closely represent?** **A.** Evil **B.** Revenge **C.** Cruelty **D.** The catalyst of the effects of past events **E.** Dismay

**4. Between which lines can you best describe a mood change in the author?** **A.** lines 1-2 **B.** lines 2-3 **C.** lines 7-8 **D.** lines 4-5 **E.** lines 5-6

**5. Why does the author go back and talk about a day he "had rued?"** **A.** To feel remorse for something he did **B.** To learn that sometimes you must let the past go **C.** The world is out to spite him **D.** People will always do something that can harm you, even if it is accidental **E.** His past will always come back to haunt him

Works Cited http://www.biography.com/people/robert-frost-20796091?page=2 http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dust-of-snow/ http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/tag/robert-frost/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYY3ao_k1XA