NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR FIRE & ICE

Thinking about the Poem

(Page 15)

Question 1.
There are many ideas about how the world will ‘end’. Do you think
the world will end some day? Have you ever thought what would
happen if the Sun gets so hot that it ‘bursts’ or grows colder and
colder?
Answer:
There are definitely many ideas about how the world will ‘end’. I do
believe that the world will end some day as anything that has a
beginning will have an end. This stands true for the world also, if the
Sun got so hot that it burst, the whole of the Earth would perish
immediately as no part of the Earth can bear the heat of that
intensity. But if the Sun grew colder and colder, everything will come
to an end as without sunlight, life will end.

Question 2.
For Frost, what do ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for? Here are some ideas

Answer:
‘Fire’ stands for greed, avarice, lust, conflict and fury. ‘Ice’ stands for
cruelty, intolerance, rigidity, insensitivity, coldness, indifference and
hatred.

Question 3.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing
out the contrasting ideas in the poem?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme of the poem is- a b a a b c b c b
This rhyme scheme helps in bringing out the contrasting ideas of ‘fire’
and ‘ice’ presented in the poem. The poet mentions that both fire and
ice are probable ends of this world. He talks about how fire represents
desire and can therefore be a cause of the end of the world. Frost also
mentions ice in between to symbolise that the coldness and
indifference towards one another will be enough to end the world. In
the second stanza, he says that he knows of enough hate in the world
to be sure that even destruction through ice . would be sufficient to
bring about the end of the world.
 EXTRA QUESTIONS FOR FIRE & ICE

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What is ‘fire’ a symbol of?

Answer: ‘Fire is a symbol of lust and endless desires.

2.What is ‘Ice’ a symbol of?

Answer: ‘ice is a symbol of hatred.

3. What will fire do to the world?

Answer: Fire will put the world to an end.

4. What will the world end in?

Answer: The world will end in the fire as well as ice.

5. Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?
Answer: The poet holds with those who favour fire because
the lust for material things is increasing quickly.

6. Why do some people say that the world will end in ice?
Answer: They say so because hatred among people is
increasing fast.

7. Who is the poet of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: Robert Frost.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What do you think would be enough to destroy the world?

Can Fire and Ice contribute to it?

Answer: Our desires and hatred would be enough to destroy

the world. According to the poet, `fire’ represents ‘desire’ and
`ice’ represents `hatred’. Desires like fire spread rapidly and
engulf one’s whole life. Similarly, ‘hatred’ fills life with poison.

2. What is the underlying idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The poet equates fire with `desire’ and ice with
‘hatred’. Both of these are growing with enormous speed. If we
don’t check them from growing, the world will perish. So we
must restrain our desires and love our fellow-beings.

3. Which two ideas about how the world will end have been
mentioned in the poem? Which idea does the poet support
more?

Answer: The two ideas mentioned are that the world will end
in fire or in ice. Though the poet thinks both are great for
destruction, yet he seems to favour the idea of the destruction
of the world in a fire a little more than in ice.

4. What does ‘fire’ and ice’ stand for and what is the general
opinion regarding the world?
Or
According to the poet, what does ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ represent?
Do you agree with him?

Answer: According to the poet, ‘fire’ represents desire and

‘ice’ represents hatred. I do agree with the poet. Desires like
fire spread rapidly and engulf one’s whole life. Similarly
‘hatred’ fills the whole life with poison. It makes one hard-
hearted and cruel.

5. What do people think about the ending of the world?

What does the poet think?

Answer: Some people think that someday the world will end
in fire. On the other hand. some people say. that it will end in
ice. The poet has tasted both the fire and the ice. He thinks
that the world will end in fire. Here fire stands for the tire of
desire.

6. How will the world end twice?

Answer: The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive.
Here fire stands for the heat of desire and ice stands for
hatred He thinks that our violent desires will end the world. If
it survives, it will be ruined by hatred.

7. What is the main idea of the poem?

Answer: The main idea of the poem is that there are violent
passions in the world. They are destructive. But mare
distinctive Mail those violent desires is the hatred between
man and man. The poet thinks that one day this hatred will
destroy the world.

8. Will this world come to an end? What does the poet say in
this regard?

Answer: Everything that has a beginning or origin, does have

an end. It is an eternal law of nature. The existing world will
come to an end, someday. The poet believed many people
believe that either ‘fire’ or ‘ice’ will be the cause of the end of
the world.

9. What do people think about the end of the world? Who

does the poet side with and why?

Answer: People are divided over the cause of the end of this
world. Some people think that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled
passions, desires and fury will destroy this world. Others
believe that ‘ice’ symbolised by cold reasoning, indifference
and hatred will be the cause of destruction. The poet sides with
those who believe that ‘fire’ or unbridled passions and desires
will result in the destruction of the world.

10. Why does the poet say, ‘I’ve tasted of desire/I hold with
those who favour fire?
Answer: The poet is familiar with the fire of passions and
desires in love. He knows it quite well that are uncontrolled
desires, passions and fury lead to our destruction. Similarly,
he sides with those people who believe that ‘fire’ symbolised by
unbridled passions and desires with be the real cause of the
end of the world.

11. What will be the cause of the end of the world if it has to
perish twice?

Answer: This world is not eternal. Its end is certain. The poet
sides with those people who think that ‘fire’ will cause the end
of the existing world. But if this world has to perish twice the
‘ice’ is as strong to bring the end of the world as ‘fire’ is. Icy
reasoning devoid of human love and sympathy and hatred is
sufficient to bring an end of this world.

12. How does the poet ‘know enough of hate’? Where will this
‘hate’ lead to?

Answer: ‘Icy’ or cold reasoning can lead to rigidity,

indifference and insensitiveness. This can take away all
warmth of human feelings, love and sympathy. The result can
be disastrous. ‘Hatred’ born out of cold and ‘Icy’ reasoning can
lead to the destruction of the world.

13. How will ‘ice’ be as ‘great’ and ‘suffice’ for causing the
end of this existing world? Do you agree with the poet?

Answer: There is no need for ‘fire’ to destroy the world. Even

‘ice’ is sufficient and ‘strong’ enough to cause the destruction
of this world. If this world has to ‘perish twice’, then there is
no need for fire to destroy it twice. ‘Ice’ is as ‘strong’ and
‘great’ a cause that can cause the end of this world.

14. What is the message of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The metaphors of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are used very
effectively to convey a definite message to the readers. ‘Fire’
here stands for our unbridled, uncontrolled and unchecked
passions, desires, lust and fury. Such passions are disastrous
for human beings. Similarly cold reasoning devoid of all
human warmth, love, sympathy will bring insensitivity,
cruelty and rigidity. This hatred will lead to the end of this
world.

15. From when I have tasted of desire

I hold with those who favour fire.
Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet sides with those who believe that the world
will be destroyed by fire. ‘Fire’ is a symbol of desire. The poet
has already experienced desire. On the basis of his experience,
he knows that excessive desire will destroy the world. That is
why he holds with those who favour fire.

16. But if it has to perish twice

I think I know enough of hate.
What does ‘it’ refer to? How will it perish twice?

Answer: ‘It’ here refers to the world. The poet says that
people hold different opinions about the end of the world. Some
say ‘fire’, which stands for ‘desire’, will destroy the world.
Secondly, ‘ice’, which stands for ‘hatred’ can also destroy the
world.

17. To say that for destruction ice

Is also great
In the poem what does ‘ice’ stand for? How is it sufficient to
bring destruction?

Answer: ‘Ice’ stands for ‘hatred’. Hatred may be religious,

communal or of any other type. According to the poet, there is
enough hatred in the world which will destroy the external,
physical world one day.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How does the poem depicts the two contrasting ideas—

‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’? Can hatred destroy us and the world?
Explain bringing out values which can make this world a
better place to live in.

Answer: (i) In this poem, Robert Frost refers to two

contrasting ideas—Fire and Ice as predictions of how the
world will end. According to him, some people say that the
world will end in a fire while some others hold that this will
end in ice. The poet equates desire with fire and hatred with
ice. Both the desire and hatred are growing with such a rapid
speed that the world will come to an end either of the ways.
(ii) Yes, hatred can destroy us and the world. Intolerance in
behaviour creates hatred that leads to fury and cruelty. One
becomes hard-hearted and insensitive to the feelings of others.
(iii) Love, brotherhood, tolerance, peace, contentment,
sensitivity, benevolence, generosity among people can make
this world a better place to live in.

2. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help

in bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem?

Answer: The rhyme scheme of the poem in the first stanza is

a, b; a band in the second stanza it is – a, b, a, b, a.
The lines ending with the same rhythm have the same idea but
the line that ends with a different note has the contrasting
idea. In the first stanza, the first, third and fourth lines end
with the words fire, desire, fire – same rhythm but the second
line ends with the word ‘ice’, a different note, also it contrasts
with ‘fire’.
Thus the poet has brought out the contrasting ideas in the
poem by using different rhythms.
3. There are many ideas about how this world will come to
an ‘end’. What are they? Do you agree with the poet and his
understanding of the poet and his understanding of the issue
in this regard?

Answer: Almost all think that this world will end at one time
or the other. It is true that everything that has a beginning or
origin will come to an end too. There are many ideas about
how this world will come to an end. Some think that ‘fire’ will
be the cause of the ‘end’ of the world. Others believe that ‘ice’
will bring the end of the world. Both of these ideas have their
valid reasons. The poet sides and stands with those who believe
that ‘fire’ will be the cause of the ‘end’.

The poet is well aware of how the ‘fire’ of unbridled passions,

desires, lust, and fury can lead to the destruction of humanity
and the world. But the other view is equally convincing. Cold
and ‘icy’ reasoning can create insensitivity, rigidity, frigidity,
and indifference in man. Ultimately, it breeds ‘hatred’ and
contempt. This kind of ‘icy’ reasoning which is devoid of all
human warmth, sympathy, love, and understanding will only
bring destruction and death of this world.
I believe that both ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ have strong potentialities to
bring disasters and destruction to the world.

4. What do the metaphors of ‘ice’ and ‘fire’ convey to the

readers? Don’t they represent the two extremes of human
behaviour that can lead to the destruction and death of this
world? What is the message that the poet wants to give to
the readers?

Answer: The poet has touched the universal issue of the

ending of this existing world. He gives a message as well as a
warning to human beings. Man is swaying between two
extremes — ‘fire’ and ‘ice’. Sometimes he is torn by his
unbridled fire of passions, desires, lusts, longings, and fury.
This results in greed, avarice and passionate love. All such
extremes can lead to unavoidable conflicts and disasters. If
not controlled, they can help in bringing an early end of this
world.

The other extreme behaviour of human beings is born out of

cold and ‘icy’ reasoning. When our cold reasoning becomes
completely devoid of human warmth, feelings, love, and
sympathy, it breeds hatred. Hatred born out of cold
indifference, insensitivity and rigidity are strong enough to
cause the end of this world. Humanity can redeem itself and
possibly save or delay the end of the world by giving up such
extremes of thinking and behaviour.

EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the

questions that follow:

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.

a. What do people think about the ending of the world?

b. What is the poet’s opinion?
c. What does ‘desire’ mean here?
d. Name the poem and the poet.

Answer:
a. Some people think that the world will end in fire. Others say
that it will end in ice.
b. The poet thinks it right that the world will end in fire.
c. Here, ‘desire’ means man’s passions and violence.
d. The poem is ‘Fire and Ice’ and the poet is ‘Robert Frost’.

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.

a. What does ‘it’ refer to here?

b. How is ‘ice’ sufficient for destruction?
c. What is the main idea of these lines?
d. What is ice a symbol of?

Answer:
a. Here, ‘it’ refers to the ‘world’.
b. ‘Ice’ symbolises hatred. So hatred is sufficient for the world’s
destruction.
c. The main idea of these lines is that hatred can destroy the
world.
d. Ice is a symbol of hatred.