Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

Q1: A positive attitude in life can make the world a better place to live in. Do you agree or disagree with the reference to the poem ‘Dust of Snow’? Express your views bringing out the inherent values.
Ans: I completely agree with the statement that a positive attitude can make the world a better place to live Robert Frost, in ‘Dust of Snow’, talks of how an otherwise bad day altered into a not-so-bad one, due to the action of a crow. It was a seemingly disconnected occurrence that brought about a change of mood in the poet. One lesson that can be learned from the poet, is to see the brightness amidst the gloom. The crow, the hemlock, and the snow are all dark images, and yet, the poet sees the color of happiness. Another lesson is that life is made up of small joys. It is through them that one can always manage to see positivity in negativity.  

Q2:  Our attitude towards a situation evokes both negative and positive responses. Analyze this with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’ to bring out the inherent valuable lessons.
Ans: Whatever situation life throws at us, it evokes both positive and negative responses. The poet, in the poem ‘Dust of Snow,’ was in a sorrowful mood. However, when a crow shook down the ‘dust of snow’ on him, his bitter mood changed into a more optimistic one. Now, being in a sorrowful or bad mood already, the poet could have got angry at the crow also. However, the dust of snow becomes a positive medium of change for him. It made him cheerful to some extent and helped him forget his sadness, at least for a few moments. Thus, we see that instead of seeing the negative aspect of a happening, one should see the positive aspect, and one’s response may greatly affect the outcome of incidents.

Q3: The poet has succeeded in giving valuable information in a light-hearted manner. What creates the desired effect? Highlight its importance in present-day life.
Ans: Frost has used simple language to drive home a very significant message, that little things sometimes have a big impact. An easy, uncomplicated language, coupled with unusual visual imagery and brevity of words creates the desired effect. The poet’s bitterness finds reflection even in the environment around him. The noisy, dark crow, the poisonous hemlock, and the icy snow around—all are essentially depressing images. However, despite the negativity, when the crow shakes down the dust of snow onto the poet, it also shakes off some of the author’s regretful thoughts. Today, when all of us live in stressful atmospheres, the poem teaches us to gain happiness from little things.

Q4: There are times when we feel depressed and hopeless. We think that things will never change. Suddenly, a change comes in our mood when cheerfulness replaces the sense of regret. Justify the above statement in the context of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’.
Ans: Change is the law of nature. Man’s mood and spirit change like the change of the weather. In the poem, the poet is in a depressed and hopeless mood. He feels that the whole of the day has been wasted. But fortunately, this is not so. The falling of the fine dust of snow on him brings a sudden change in his mood. He realizes that all is not lost. There is still hope for redemption. No doubt, a large part of the day has already been lost. It has been rather a bad day so far. But no more now. Now a part of the day has been redeemed. The change of landscape has changed his mood. Cheerfulness had replaced the feeling of regret. His spirits are no more depressed. The sudden change outside also cheers his heart and mood.

Q5: Poets have great power of imagination. Robert Frost also explains his imagination very well and proves that sometimes the bad symbols change into a boon. Discuss.
Ans: It is well known that poets have great imaginative power. Based on this power, the poet gives this world a new idea and pleasure. They do dip down into the ocean of imagination and carry valuable things. Then they present before the world an exotic moment. Robert Frost, in this poem, represents the crow and hemlock tree as inauspicious. But when the crow shakes off the dust of snow from the hemlock tree, it falls on the poet. It changes his dejected mood and saves the day from being spoilt.

Q6: Our mental condition depends on our surroundings and it can be changed according to it. Explain and prove.
Ans: Our mental condition indeed depends on our surroundings. For example, if we go to greener places or nearby waterfalls, we get immense pleasure. This poem also describes it. The poet was sitting under a hemlock tree in a dejected mood, but when a crow shakes this tree and the dust of snow falls on the poet, it changes the poet’s mood. It was a pleasant incident.