• Setting: The poem is set in the winter season. The poet is outside and there is plenty of snow in the vicinity.
• Tone: The tone of the poem Dust of Snow is light and cheerful. The poet is depressed in in the beginning but after the crow shakes itself and the snow falls on him, he find a change in the mood.
• Mood: The mood of the poet in the poem is not good in the beginning However after crow shakes itself, the mood of the poet changes and he remains happy for the rest of the day.

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The poet observes the nature differently from other people. Crow and hemlock tree are not considered good by the people. They are rather taken as signs of bad omen. However for the poet they are signs of goodness because initially the poet is in a bad mood but the crow and the hemlock tree makes him cheerful and he remains in a good mood for the rest of the day.

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The poem The Dust of Snow exposes the irrelevancy of superstition which are popular among us. It is commonly believed that crow is the sign of bad omen. It bring doom and mishap. Similarly, dust refers to death (in Christian and Islamic culture) and Hemlock tree (a poisonous tree) on the other hand was used by Socrates to commit suicide.

However ironically, all these things of bad omen make the poet’s day cheerful. So, the poem depicts that we should always hope for the best and never take anything as bad omen.

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