Question

Comment on the treatment of nature in Frost’s works with reference to both Dust of Snow and Fire of Ice.

Answer 1

Explanation:

The poem 'Dust of Snow' shows the poet's passion and love towards nature. He implies that nature has the power to change his mood in a better way in a very short time. The hemlock tree and crow symbolise despair and regret( because hemlock is poisonous and crow is believed to be a bad omen or nuisance). The dust of snow, i.e the soft and smooth snow denotes happiness.

In the poem 'Fire and Ice', the poet believes that nature has the power to take good care of humanity but equally has the ability to destroy the world and bring an end to it. He thinks of two possibilities. The fire, symbolising war, anger, rage and power; the ice symbolising coldness, insensitivity, cruelty and lack of compassion or empathy. The world might end due to any of these to circumstances.

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