Fire
and Ice
By Robert Frost
·
‘Fire and Ice’ is a small poem of 10 lines composed
by Robert Frost, a renowned American poet of 20th century.
· It
discusses the possible ways / theories how this world may end incorporated with poet's own interpretation.
·
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 bitter and critical 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 civilised 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, Anaphora
Some say
in ice – Alliteration, Anaphora
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
Some say the
world will end in fire, Some say in ice – 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
Q1. 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 symbolically 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.
Q2. 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. According to Robert Frost fire stands for madness of
desires, rage, greed and selfishness and ice represents hatred, ill will, insensitive
attitude and lack of warmth of emotions towards our fellow beings. These two
may cause the destruction of this world. Fire and Ice are used as the symbols for the following:
FIRE ICE
GREED INTOLERENCE
AVARICE CRUELTY
LUST INDIFFERENCE
CONFLICT
HATRED
FURY COLDNESS
RIGIDITY INSENSITIVITY
Q4. Discuss the extreme behaviour of humanity
according to the poet with respect of ice and fire?
Ans. Discussing two theories behind the destruction
of the world the poet criticises man’s tendency to go to any extent to
accomplish his desires and meet his selfish purposes without caring for others’
pain and
troubles. He can also kill other human being for his selfish purposes. There is so much hatred among the people that
the world may be destroyed two times.
The milk of kindness has dried up and mankind is suffering from the
drought of feelings. There is no warmth of emotions left people and their
hearts have become cold. Cruelty and hatred is ruling their hearts so much the
mankind may kill one another someday. The poison of hatred is sufficient to
destroy this world twice.
Video on Fire and Ice
RTC 1
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
Q1. What do the people say about the end of this world?
Q2. What is the poet’s opinion? How is the poet’s opinion different?
Q3. Write the meaning of the word 'tasted' as used here.
Q4. What is the symbol of desire used here?
Q5. Which poetic device is used in the first line?
Q6. What is the tone of the poet in these lines?
RTC 2
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Q1. What is the poet's opinion about the end of the
world?
Q2. What is symbol used for hatred?
Q3. Write the meaning of the word 'perish'.
Q4. What is the rhyming scheme of these lines?
Q5. Which poetic device is used in the first line?
Q6. What does the poet want to convey through these
lines?
Answers:
RTC 1
1. Some learned people predict that the world will end
due to excessive heat whereas some believe that the world will get destroyed
due to extremely low temperature where everything freezes.
2. The poet’s opinion is that
this world can be destroyed due to people’s selfishness, mad desires, high
ambitions, lack of sensitivity and absence of warmth in their hearts. The poet’s opinion is different because he doesn’t talk
about environmental reasons behind the destruction of this world but he is more
concerned about fast depleting value system and growing selfishness and
insensitivity among mankind.
3. The word 'tasted' here means to have
experienced, witnessed or observed.
4. Fire is used as the symbol of desire.
5. Alliteration/Anaphora/Assonance are used in first line.
6. The poet’s tone is bitter and critical.
RTC 2
1. The poet opines that this world can be destroyed
due to people’s selfishness, mad desires, high ambitions, lack of sensitivity
and absence of warmth in their hearts.
2. Ice is used as the symbol of hatred.
3. The word 'perish' means to get destroyed.
4. ABABB
5. Assonance is used in first line.
6. The poet seems to be shattered and, in anguish to notice
extreme selfishness and insensitivity around. He conveys that the destruction
of this world may be approaching due to the fast depleting value system and
growing selfishness and insensitivity among humans. He wishes to give the message
of love, peace, kindness and philanthropy.
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