Fire and Ice
(Robert Frost)
Poetic devices
1. Symbolism – Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify some
ideas by giving them symbolic meaning different from their
literal meaning.
Fire – symbolizes desire with human emotions like lust, fury,
cruelty, greed etc..
Ice – symbolizes the hatred with cold feelings of humans such
as rigidity, jealousy, indifference, intolerance etc..
2. Imagery —Imagery is the visualisation of the poetic
description through our sensory organs. Here, the reader
would visualise the destruction through fire or ice. The
imagery formed would depend on how we perceive and
imagine in the context being portrayed in the poem. It makes
a poem picturesque as images are formed in the minds of the
reader.
3. Personification —Personification is to assig human qualities to
non-living things. In this poem, ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are capable to
destroy the earth.
4. Anaphora — Anaphora is the repetition of a word or
expression at the start of two or more consecutive lines.
For example:
‘Some say’’ is repeated at the start of the lines 1 and 2.
5. Alliteration —Alliteration is repetition of the same sound used
at the beginning of the nearly placed words.
Example: The sound of ‘s’ in some say, ‘f’ in ‘‘Favour fire’’, and ‘w’ in
‘‘world will’’.
6. Assonance – Assonance is the repetition of same vowel sounds in
different words in the same line.
e.g., ‘‘I hold with those who favour fire.’’ In this line, the long sound
of ‘O’ is used.
7. Enjambment—It is a line or clause that does not come to an end
at a line break, rather it moves over to the next line. This device has
been used prominently in the poem.
For Example:
‘‘From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire’’
8. Metaphor – It is a literary device that is used to make a covert
comparison without using the words ’like ‘or ’as ‘.
Here, the poet has used the terms ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ as metaphors for
the human emotions related to desire and hatred.
9. Antithesis – Fire is the antithesis of ice. Two contrasting and
directly opposite destructive forces have been the hallmark of this
poem; Fire and Ice’.
Theme of the poem
The poem "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost is a metaphor for human
perceptions of desires and hatred. The fire symbolises burning
desires, while the ice, on the other hand, describes ice-cold hatred.
It describes how we humans will be the end of our own race. It also
illustrates how desires, feelings of lust, and passion lead us to do
ourselves harm, how hatred and unsympathetic judgement make us
cold towards everyone.
Symbolism
In Robert Frost's poem "Fire and Ice", fire and ice
symbolize destructive forces and human emotions:
Fire
Represents human desires, such as greed, lust, conflict, and
fury. Fire can also symbolize intense emotions and destructive
forces.
Ice
Represents hatred, cruelty, intolerance, rigidity, insensitivity,
coldness, indifference, and passivity. Ice can also symbolize a lack of
empathy, cooperation, and communication.
What do ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion
regarding the world?
Fire’ stands for fury, desire, lust, anger, avarice, cruelty, greed. Ice is
symbolic of hatred, coldness,
rigidity, insensitivity, and intolerance. The general opinion regarding
the world is that the world will end in fire and some say in ice. Both
the reasons contrast each other and one is equally opposed to the
other. People who favour fire believe that it will be the heat and
passion which will end the world. On the other side, some people
think that it will be the ice which will freeze the world.
Today’s world is conflict-ridden. People fight over various issues and
there is no peace in the world. Explain/Describe based on your
reading of the poem ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’.
Hatred is a predominant issue in today’s world. The Neighbour
hates his neighbour, brother hates his brother. None is willing to
forgive each other or tolerate each other. As a result of the hatred,
we live in a very fragmented world. If hatred continues to rule our
lives and world, nothing will remain intact. All our achievements
will perish and the world will come to an end. If we have to save
the world we need to learn how to forget and forgive. For this, we
need to have an enormous amount of love and compassion and be
willing to tolerate the differences and learn to get along with each
other.
