Summary of the Poem Fire and Ice. Others say that ice will destroy the world. Fire and Ice is Frost's poem of dry-eyed acceptance of both passions in their most destructive form. Poem Analysis, https://poemanalysis.com/robert-frost/fire-and-ice/. "Some say the world will end in fire,". The world will end in fire, according to the speaker. It was written and published in 1920, shortly after WWI, and weighs up the probability of two differing apocalyptic scenarios represented by the elements of the poem's title. Feel free to disagree with my interpretation. In recent years, these discussions have centered around nuclear disaster, immense climate change, and general cynicism. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem. An Insightful Interview with the Poet Updated: 09/09/2021 . Analysis: 1. Fire of violent desires will put the world to an end. There are two reported inspirations for the poem: the first of these is Dante's Inferno, which is a poetic and literary journey into Hell written in the 14th century. It means that the poem is not concluded entirely. Answer: Fire and Ice are symbolized here. Analysis of the poem. Robert Frosts Fire and Ice is about destruction, the central theme of the poem. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /f/ in I hold with those who favor fire. The narrative by Robert Frost Fire and Ice is powerful in illustrating two forces, which are strong in the world and the human mind. The poet says that there are mainly two opinions about the end of this world. The speaker recalls their experiences with a strong desire and tends to believe that it is those kinds of emotions and impulses that lead the world down its irrevocable path. The Poems of Robert Frost explained with poem summaries in just a few minutes! Read more about Robert Frost. In nine lines, Frost conveys the contradiction of the two choices for the world's end. Moving Away By: Elaina Marks Some say moving can be great, Some say it causes hate. I highly recommend him if you need an assignment done . Fire stands for conflict, fury, intolerance, insensitivity while Ice stands for greed, avarice, lust, rigidity, coldness, indifference, hatred, etc. One is of the opinion that fire alone can . Pages 5, Ask a professional expert to help you with your text, Give us your email and we'll send you the essay you need, By clicking Send Me The Sample you agree to the terms and conditions of our service. In these lines, the poet says that there are two theories held by the general people about how the world will be destroyed. In conclusion the dominant point brought out by Frost is the presence of sever punishment for mans inequities. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our work is created by a team of talented poetry experts, to provide an in-depth look into poetry, like no other. Most critics agree that The Gift Outright is a superior poem to the inauguration poem Frost had written, and The Gift Outright is now more or less synonymous with Kennedys inauguration. This might not be an all inclusive meaning and can be totally unrelatable but with faith on the poets foresight, we stick to what is logical and then succumb to the beauty of his creativity. In the poem 'Fire and Ice', Robert Frost uses a sarcastic tone to warn us about the dangers that planet Earth could face, if we do not keep our desires and negative emotions in control. Fire represents the heat and is also associated with passion. In the first line, fire represents the desires of the world. He famously observed of free verse, which was favoured by many modernist poets, that it was like playing tennis with the net down. People want to satisfy their desire but gradually it grows more. INTRODUCTION OF THE POEM This is a beautifully written poem by Robert Frost. Literary Devices are used by writers and poets to add distinctiveness and complexity to plain works. Try These 13 Books Like The AlchemistContinue, Read More Pablo Neruda Tonight I Can Write The Saddest LinesContinue, Read More 12 Ridiculously Beautiful Ocean Poems to ReadContinue, Read More Poems About Music (Lyrical Lines for Daily Inspiration)Continue, Read More A Mothers Love Poem (No Love More Powerful than Hers)Continue, Your email address will not be published. He says that he is in the favor of those who say this world will end in fire as he has seen the effect and result of uncontrolled and unbending desires. Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. Some say in ice. Poem begins with some say which means that a group of people is of the opinion that the world will come to an end either by fire or by ice. It may happen that the core of the earth will get so heated up that it would start a fire . Ice, on the other hand, represents the extreme cold and on an emotional level . The elements of fire and ice mentioned in the poem, and foregrounded in its title, are two of the four Aristotelian or classical elements, along with earth and air (although ice is usually just described as water, Frost whose very surname here summons the icy conditions of one half of the poem is purposely summoning these classical elements). Some people believe that the appropriate punishments for sins of man are by fire and others believe that it is by ice. Some say in ice. Punishment for man is inevitable; it is only a matter of what kind of punishment man shall receive for his perversion of morals. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Some say the world will end in fire while others say it will end in ice. The speaker believes fire to be the more likely world-ender of the two, and links it directly with what he or she has "tasted" of "desire." Heres a Symbolism in Robert Frost Lesson Plan. It means that earth's core will heat up to . Of course, ice and fire are diametrically opposed, implying that most people have diametrically opposed opinions on the apocalypse after all, the world cannot end in ice and fire at the same moment. For example. I think I know enough of hate It's a sort of chili pepper in a fridge. The words "fire" and "ice" are compared to ways that Frost the world will end. Ice can make the body numb with its prolonged contact. "Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice." In the first and second lines of poetry, the word "some say" is used Anaphora. 1920 was also the year he needed to commit his sister to a mental hospital, which marked the beginning of a difficult time for the family which had already seen its fair share of grief, as, by this time, Frosts parents had both passed away, and Frost himself was battling depression amidst everything else. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. In the first two lines of the poem, Frost creates a . The catastrophic powers mentioned in Fire and Ice operate on two levels. Overall the poem is a mix of iambic tetrameter and iambic dimeter, the long lines having eight syllables and four stresses, the shorter four syllables and two stresses. As the title implies, Fire and Ice is a poem of contrasts, a poem of extremes. Fire and Ice - Critical Commentary "Fire and Ice" is a symbolic (or, metaphorical) poem by the American poet Robert Frost. Frost's poem neatly expresses this ethical scenario in a nutshell. It is not clear whether frost was of an ecologically-aware bent of mind, but his present readers certainly are. The poet presents two completely opposite views regarding this. 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Identify the meter and any examples of straying from the meter. They believe the world will burn, in one form or the other, and that would end it but if it didnt end, and the fire wasnt enough, the remainder of the poem says, then they believe the ice could manage the feat as well. There is a copy of the poem and 8 open-ended questions. Will the world end in fire or ice? This is illustrated by the words Some say the world will end in fire / Some say in ice/ I hold with those who favor fire Frost gives his opinions meaning that his claims of the end of the world will be by either fire or ice are based on mere speculation form the knowledge of science. To enrich and enhance the meaning of the poem fire and ice are used as a symbols and also act as a personification. The words and the meaning brought about by the poem can be interpreted to mean that the two elements fire and ice representing love and hate respectively are diverse in the own way and strong in different aspects, however if one proves to be in plenty than the other the latter has no chance for survival. But if it had to perish twice,I think I know enough of hateTo say that for destruction iceIs also greatAnd would suffice. " Fire and Ice " is a popular poem by Robert Frost that discusses the end of the world, likening the elemental force of fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate. The pattern of the poem is arranged in such a way that the words and sentences gives clarity and consistency. Some say the world will end in fire,Some say in ice. Cold indifference and hate can be equally destructive. CBSE Class 10 English Fire and Ice Poem Summary. it is a poem based on mere speculation as there neither is nor guarantee that the world will end by either fire or ice. Parallelism is used in the first two lines of the poem some say the world will end in fire / some say in ice. The speaker cites destruction, the possibility of dying twice, and the notion that the world will end in the opening sentence. STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE POEM "FIRE AND ICE" BY ROBERT FROST. Moreover, there is the use of enjambment, where a sentence continues to the next line of the verse. Laconic style of writing makes the poem factual and scientific. on. This clever twist on the terza rima rhyme means that the initial opening fire gradually fades as the poem progresses, with ice taking over. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The entire poem is an example of meiosis, or understatement. The rhyme scheme is: aba abc bcb with ice repeated twice and also contained within twice/suffice. The poem is a real piece of . Robert Frosts one of the shorter poems, Fire and Ice is written in very simple language in a nine-line stanza. No worries. In other words, the world will either burn up or freeze up. Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. There is also repetition of vowel sound /o/ in the same line. Please endeavor to share this article with family, friends, and colleagues. He has used the idea of two groups who have their own possible explanation for the end of the world. So, in the poem, fire is desire which is passion, and ice is hate which is reason. Another event of note is a recollection by American astronomer Harlow Shapley, who recalled meeting with Robert Frost and discussing the end of the world. It was composed and distributed in 1920, soon after WWI, and weighs up the likelihood of two contrasting apocalyptic calamitous situations addressed by the sonnet's title components. Robert Frost was invited to read a poem at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961. He explains us how he thinks the world might end by two things - fire and ice. There are examples of alliteration in some says, favor fire and world will. The poet adds that if the world gets a second chance to perish, the reason will be ice, as it symbolizes coldness of heart hatred and lack of human compassion. Poet uses literary devices and proper punctuation, which gives a very beautiful rise and fall to the poem. In this poem, Frost was trying to create . We specialize in teacher-ready lesson plans. "Fire and Ice" is a poem written by Robert Frost, published in 1923. Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. According to Frost's biographers, the poem was inspired by a passage in Dante's "Inferno . In this, https://poemanalysis.com/robert-frost/fire-and-ice/, Poems covered in the Educational Syllabus. Frosts Fire and Ice Explicator 59.1 (2000): MAS Ultra-School Edition. Fire and Ice is a symbolic (or, metaphorical) poem by the American poet Robert Frost. In this poem, "Fire" and "Ice" are capable of destruction. Poem Solutions Limited International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, Waste not, want not asks everyone to pay attention to what they waste as that waste might lead to want.. Fire and Ice Launch Audio in a New Window. It is defined as a thought or clause that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it moves over the next line. The poem has a symbolic, even allegorical quality to it, which makes more sense when it is analysed in its literary and historical context. An insightful video about Frost's life. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia with Alzheimer's Research Charity. These two extremes, he expostulates, will eventually destroy the world. In addition, it seems that his knowledge as to the means that the world will end is influenced largely by other peoples opinions, which he seems to value a lot. I hold with those who favor fire. From what Ive tasted of desireI hold with those who favor fire. Print out the poem. The metaphor, the end of the . What counts is how the heat or cold is dealt with. In a way, this poem is a call to act, to stop arguing about the how how will this happen? and start debating the what what can we do to stop it?. This poem was clearly the result of considerable contemplation. The presence of fire and ice is sufficient because both elements are powerful in their own respect. Some say in ice. You dont even have to continue reading unless youre hankering for some amazing analysis. Read More Poems for the Loss of a Sister That Will Make You Really EmotionalContinue, Read More Cant Get Enough? This article provides the Fire and Ice poem analysis, through its symbolism, theme, and a detailed line-by-line understanding . He seems to consider sins of passion as lesser evils because he finds that love is stronger and important than hate. Robert Frost, in his own inimitable way, chose both, the poem expressing this dualism in a typical rhythmic fashion, using a modified version of the rhyming scheme known as terza rima where the second line of the first tercet rhymes fully with the first and third lines of the next. 2 May 2012. 2. We said that fire and ice are perhaps more allegorical than symbolic in Frosts poem, because rather than leaving these deeply symbolic forces of fire and ice open to speculation and different interpretations, he goes on to link them very specifically to two particular emotions: desire for fire, and hate for ice. Simple language that portrays significant meaning of hatred and desire is evident in the poem. Aside from symbolic metaphors, Frost employs additional complex but equally, obvious language to emphasize the poems message. Fire and Ice is a short rhyming poem Frost wrote in 1920 that was probably inspired by Dante's Inferno, Canto 32 (the first book of his 14th century Divine Comedy) which deals with the subject of sinners in a fiery hell, up to their necks in a lake of ice. The first part of the poem reflects on destruction by fire which is caused by obsession. Stanza 1Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. Robert Frost was born in San Francisco, but his family moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1884 following his father's death. Also, read about its publication and adaptation. Delving deeper, if Frost took inspiration from Dante's Inferno, then it's necessary to relate these nine lines of the poem to the nine circles of hell mentioned in Dante's book and to also link the Greek philosopher Aristotle's ethical ideas about human nature, which Dante's book reflects. The 'fiery lake proves that fire is an expression of cry or sorrow. This is illustrated as in the lines throughout the poem such as Some say the world will end in fire, / some say in ice. (Hansen, 31). This lesson is about the poem Fire and Ice by Robert Frost. These first few lines describe the disagreement in general society on the topic of how the world ends. The comparison of Fire versus Ice has been around for so long and is comparable to the yin-yang, and the theme of imperfect balance. The poet agrees with those people who believe that the world will be burnt in fire. This is a fascinating article about the time President Kennedy sent Robert Frost to Russia in the 1960s inan effort to help defuse tensions. 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. He became one of the United States rare public literary figures, almost an artistic institution.. In its theme the poem resembles James Patrick Kinneys poem The Cold Within. Popularity of "Fire and Ice": This poem was written by Robert Frost, a great American poet.It is a popular literary piece on account of its contradictory subject matter of earth's destruction and the ending. These two things are fire and ice. Fire and Ice Structural Analysis. Fire has been compared to desire and greed to do more and compete unhealthily. By continuing well assume youre on board with our cookie policy, Dont waste Your Time Searching For a Sample, Epic Fantasy A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. The speaker has tasted it. No one knows exactly how the world will end but those are possibilities. Casual readers sometimes overlook the depth of his poetry and its technical accomplishment. He presents two opposite views about the end of humanity and the world. 2 May 2012. Frost uses two extremes, fire and ice, as the poems controlling images, images which symbolize the two extremes of lust and hate. In addition, the poem employs a first person narrative such that the Frost is able to tell the audience of the effects of fire and ice or love and hate. It features a narrator describing the end of the world in their own vision, and its largely simplistic. Instant downloads of all 1682 LitChart PDFs Frost's use of "fire" and "ice," however, is largely a metaphoric decision that opens the poem . Fire and Ice by Robert Frost Critical Analysis. Question and Answer forum for K12 Students. "Fire and Ice" is a popular poem by American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963). The poem is a real piece of act and fancy. Critical Analysis Of Fire And Ice. The poem Fire and Ice by Robert Frost is a metaphor for human perceptions of desires and hatred. The way the content is organized. Poet uses right choice and proper arrangement of words and phrases that makes the way easier to reach to intended meaning of the words. 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fire and ice by robert frost analysis