Question

3. The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
(1) What do the crow and the hemlock tree usually represent?
(ii) How is the usual symbolism of the crow and the hemlock contradicted here?
(iii) What does the snow represent here?
(iv) What effect do these three elements have on the poet?​

Answer 1

Explanation:

(a) The 'crow' symbolises 'joy' and the 'hemlock' tree symbolises 'sorrow'.

The reference to snow means the poem is set in winter, which is also symbolic of death. So in the first stanza, we have a triple death image that sets a dark and somber mood. But this changes in the second stanza

(b) He saw a crow sitting on a hemlock tree shook off the dust of snow on him. Thus, the falling of dust of snow changed his mood.

Answer 2

Answer:

hope it helps!

Explanation:

1. the crow and hemlock tree represent negatives. Hemlock is a poisonous tree and a crow has been a bad symbol throughout litrature

2. they are double negatives and the crow dusting the snow cancels the negative of the hemlock

3. the snow is the sole positive and represents the small moments of happiness in ones life

4. the hemlock represents his mood and the crow is another negative, but the small shower or snow tht it brings greatly improves the poets mood and makes him happy