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.
Scan the poem and determine the rhythm.
is it a sonnet? or do they want this:
A crow symbolizes death, snow is white and something white symbolizes purity like God. Hemlock is a poisonous treethat has little white flowers on it. Rued means to wish that something was undone or nonexistent.
With that information i think that this poem is about someone, who is feeling that their life is bad and perhaps not worth living. They wish that that present day they are in had never come. And the crow which means death is what he or she saw which might make them think about dying. But then something that he thought was bad(the crow) shook blessing and purity from itself (the snow) from a poisonous hemlock tree which fell on the person. This therefore changed the persons mood and maybe his or her outlook on life... and it saved him or her from a fate worse than everyday pain that life brings.
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. Since you mention both "scanning" and "rhythm" the following link provides a "lesson" on those things:
http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?invocationType=advancedSearch&as_q=rhythm+of+a+poem&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_occt=anywhere+in+the+page&lr=&as_filetype=&ex_as_filetype=&as_qdr=anytime&as_sitesearch=&ex_as_sitesearch=
If you "copy and paste" you will include everything you need to get the site.
To answer your question "Is it a sonnet?" No, it is not.
snow is white
Snow is also a death symbol...it is cold and things do not live in the snow ( cold) A body loses its heat in death.
Check out the use of the verb rued....
P.S. I thought you might like what the book "A Dictionary of Symbols" by J.E. Cirlot (no longer in print and translated from the Spanish) has to saw on the word "crow."
Because of its black colour, it is associated with the idea of beginning. Because it is associated with the atmosphere, it is a symbol for creative, demiurgic power and for spiritual strength. Because of its flight, it is considered a messenger. In Christian symbolism it is an allegory of solitude.
page 71
The poem "Dust of Snow" by Robert Frost does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter, so it is not a sonnet. The rhythm of a poem refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line. To determine the rhythm, you would need to analyze the syllables in each line and identify any patterns.
However, based on your analysis of the symbolism in the poem, it seems that you have interpreted it as a reflection on someone's negative mood or outlook on life being changed by a seemingly small and unexpected event. The crow symbolizes death, while the dust of snow shaken down by the crow represents purity or blessings. The hemlock tree, with its poisonous nature and small white flowers, adds to the contrasting imagery.
The person in the poem initially feels burdened by their day, but this small act of nature causes a shift in their mood and saves them from further distress. The mention of the word "rued" suggests that they might have regretted or wished to undo the day, but this unexpected moment has a positive impact on them.
It's worth noting that while your interpretation is valid and reflects your understanding of the symbols, the meaning of a poem can be subjective and open to different interpretations. Others may perceive different themes or emotions in the poem based on their own experiences and perspectives.
As for the additional information you provided about the symbolism of crows and snow, it adds further depth to your analysis. Snow can symbolize death due to its coldness and lack of life, and the crow's association with solitude and spiritual strength adds another layer of interpretation.
Overall, your analysis and interpretation of the poem are well-supported and demonstrate a thoughtful understanding of the symbolism present.