English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

In "Dust of Snow," black and white go beyond mere colours to symbolise contrasting emotional states.

Black is represented by the crow and the hemlock tree — both associated with darkness, death, and ill-omen. They symbolise the poet's gloomy, despairing mood at the start of the poem.

White is represented by the dust of snow — pure, light, and refreshing — symbolising hope, positivity, and renewal.

Ironically, it is the black crow shaking white snow that triggers the mood change. Thus, black (despair) and white (hope) together signify that even in the darkest moments, a small joyful incident can restore one's spirit and save a ruined day.

Source: Dust of Snow, Chapter 1

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• Examiners expect you to identify the two symbols (crow/hemlock = black = despair; snow = white = hope) and explain the irony — that a dark agent brings a bright change.
• Don't just list meanings; connect them to the poet's mood change — that's the core of the 3-mark answer.
• Use terms like symbolise, represent, ironically to show literary awareness.