Fire
and Ice
By Robert Frost
Notes:
·
‘Fire and Ice’ is a single stanza poem composed
by Robert Frost, an American poet.
· It
discusses the possible ways / theories how this world may end.
·
The
poet conveys that man’s desires and hatred are so strong and powerful that they may be the cause of destruction of this world.
·
Symbolically,
man’s desire is presented as fire and his hatred is presented as ice.
·
Tone
of the poem is critical and sarcastic as the poet criticises man’s greed and
lack of emotions and warmth of heart in modern world.
Line by Line Explanation
Line 1-4 with rhyme scheme
Some say the
world will end in fire, a
Some say in
ice. b
From what
I’ve tasted of desire a
I hold with
those who favour fire. a
The poet,
Robert Frost refers to the possible theories which claim that this world would end some day. The learned people like scientists are divided over the two possible theories about
the end of this world. Some of them believe that the world would be destroyed
due to fire or excessive heat whereas some opine that the world would be
destroyed by ice or freezing due to extremely low temperature. The poet agrees with
the first theory that the world would be destroyed by fire but he doesn’t talk
about real fire or excessive heat. He thinks that man has become so much
selfish and mad in fulfilling his desires that he may go to any extent. He can
also kill other human being for his selfish purposes. In this blind madness of
his greed and uncontrolled rage of accomplishing his desires entire humanity
may kill one another and thus, end this world.
Line 5-9 with rhyme scheme
But if it
had to perish twice, b
I think I
know enough of hate c
To say that
for destruction ice b
Is also great
c
And would
suffice. b
Here, the
poet rethinks and changes his first opinion and tells the readers that the ice, which is presented as a symbol of cold
hearts and lack of emotions, is sufficient to end the world twice. In fact, the
poet wants to say that there is so much hatred among the people that the world
may be destroyed two times. He wants to
convey that milk of kindness has dried up and mankind is suffering from the
drought of feelings. There is no warmth of emotions left among the people and their
hearts have become cold. Cruelty and hatred are ruling their hearts so much that the
mankind may kill one another some day. The poison of hatred is sufficient to
destroy this world twice. Here, the poet wants to criticise man’s tendency to go to any extent to
accomplish his desires and meet his selfish purposes without caring for others’
loss and pain.
Message of the poem
The
poet, Robert Frost tries to convey that man ought to tame his emotions, control his desires and
behave as a civilized one. Mankind needs to nurture an ocean of emotions in
their hearts and live for others’ happiness.
Rhyme Scheme of the poem
ABA ABC BCB
Poetic Devices:
Some say
the world will
end in fire– Alliteration
Some say
in ice – Alliteration
Some say the
world will end in
fire - Assonance
I hold with
those who favour fire.
– Alliteration
I hold with those who
favour fire. - Assonance
But if it had to perish twice – Assonance
To say that
for destruction ice – Metaphor
Some say the
world will end in fire – Imagery
To say that
for destruction ice – Symbolism
I hold with
those who favour fire – Symbolism
And would suffice – Consonance
the world will end in fire – Consonance
Important Question - Answers
Q. There are
many ideas about how the world would end. What does the poet think? Do you
agree?
Ans. Two contrasting
ideas are discussed in the poem about how the world would end. According to one
belief the world would by destroyed by fire or excessive heat while the other
one predicts that the world would end due to extreme cold or freezing of
everything. The poet presents these two ideas metaphorically and believes that
either man’s selfish desires, greed and longingness would be the reason for the
end of this world or his hatred for his fellow beings would be sufficient to
end this world. I completely agree with the poet as in the present time man’s
selfishness, greed, insensitivity, cruelty and hatred have crossed all the
limits.
Q. What is
the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting
ideas in the poem?
Ans. The rhyme scheme of the poem is abaabcbcb. Through
this rhyme scheme the two contrasting ideas behind the destruction of the world
by ‘fire’ or ‘ice’ are presented very artistically. If we closely see the rhyme
scheme, the first idea is discussed using the ‘ire’ words, (fire and desire) which
are denoted by A. The second idea behind the destruction of the world is discussed
using the words related to 'ice' and 'hate' and they are denoted by B and C in the rhyme
scheme. Hence, two contrasting ideas are very beautifully separated through
rhyming scheme.
Q3. What do Fire and Ice stand for?
Ans.
FIRE ICE
GREED INTOLERENCE
AVARICE RIGIDITY
LUST INDIFFERENCE
CONFLICT
HATRED
FURY COLDNESS
INSENSITIVITY
CRUELTY
Video on Fire and Ice
https://youtu.be/Tv5JstzM8Zs
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