Fire And Ice

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 got so hot that it ‘burst’, or grew
colder and colder ?

Answer:

I don’t think the world will ever end. It will go on provided man lets it go survive and flourish
The sun is already as hot as it can be. Therefore, there is no possibility of its bursting. And to
grow as cold as ice, it will take millions and millions of years. Thus both the possibilities are
very remote.

Question 2:

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

Answer:

For Frost, ‘fire’ stands for greed, conflict, avarice, violence, cruelty, intolerance, lust and
hatred. ‘Ice’ stands for insensitivity, coldness, indifference and rigidity.

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 abaa, bcbcb. The rhyming words are — (fire, desire), (ice,
twice, suffice) and (hate, great). Thus the rhyme-scheme brings out the contrast between
the fire of desire and the ice of hatred both of which are sufficient to bring about the end of
the world.

Q1. According to the poet, what do ‘ice’ and ‘fire’ symbolise? [CBSE QB, 2020-21]

Ans. According to the poet ‘ice’ symbolizes hatred, coldness and rigidity and these human
cold emotions and lack of love are destructive enough to remove the warmth of fire and
destroy the world. Fire symbolises unlimited wishes and desires of human beings like violent
feelings of anger, cruelty, brutality, etc., that might end the world.
Q2. What is the message of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Ans. The poem ‘Fire and Ice’ is short but encompasses the entire humanity in its targeted
message. The metaphor of ‘Fire and Ice’ are used very effectively to solidly convey a clear
message to the readers. The poem acts like a moral-mirror for readers to assess their own
standing in the world. ‘Fire’ stands for our uncontrolled passions which are disastrous for
human beings. Similarly cold reasoning devoid of human love will bring insensitivity. Both
the aspect of human thinking and resulting behaviour embedded with desire and hatred will
lead to the end of this world and it may also happen more than once.

Q3. The tone of the speaker contrasts with the seriousness of the subject matter. Justify.
[CBSE QB, 2020-21]

Ans. ‘Fire and Ice’ is a symbolic poem by Robert Frost with a message to reveal the gravity of
the violent and cold human emotions. These emotions, if not controlled, may lead to
destruction of the world. The poet wants to make humanity believe that everything will end
one day as a result of human misdeed. His aim is aphorism-brevity for Frost truth remains
ambiguous as to how specific the world is going to end. That’s why the tone contrasts with
the seriousness of the subject matter with people favouring both ‘fire’ and ‘ice’.

Q4. Evaluate the line- Some say the world will end in fire/Some say in ice- in the context of
volcanic eruptions, forest fires, meteor collisions, melting ice caps etc. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]

Ans. In the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ the poet considers the age-old question of whether the world
will end in fire or in ice. The threat of global warming may lead to severe volcanic eruptions
and forest fires that may end the world or there might be a meteor collision, the melting of
ice caps or glaciers etc, that may also end the world.

So, either option is enough to achieve its purpose sufficiently may be in storm of volcanic
eruptions, forest fires or melting ice caps.

Q5. Fire and Ice projects a pessimistic outlook. Comment. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]

Ans. According to me, ‘Fire and Ice’ projects a realistic outlook rather than a pessimistic one.
The poet brings forth the view that the world will soon end. It can be either by fire or ice. He
mentions that he has tasted everything in life after World War I. So, it would soon end either
with greed or indifference.

Q6. What does ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the
world? [Board Term-I, 2016-17]

Ans. Fire stands for fury, desire, lust, anger, avarice, cruelty and 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 ice. Both the two reasons contrast each
other and one equally opposite to each other. People who favour fire believe that it will be
the heat and passion which will end the world. On the other hand, some people think that it
will be the ice which will freeze the world.

Q7. To say that for destruction, ice is also great for the poet, what does ice stand for? How
is it sufficient to bring destruction? [CBSE 2014]

Ans. Ice stands for the cold feelings of humans such as indifference, hatred, greed, jealousy,
apathy, lack of love, cold-heartedness, etc. Although the poet states that he believes fire
would bring an end to the world, he also states that if the world has to end twice, then ice or
the cold feelings of people are also great to end the world.

Q8. How will the world end? Support your answer with a scientific explanation. [CBSE
2014]

Ans. According to some people, the world will end in fire. The core of the earth will get
extremely heated up due to the increasing global warming. It may lead to severe natural
calamities like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, uncontrollable forest fires and tsunamis that
may end the world. However, some people believe that the world may end in ice. As a result
of the melting ice caps or glaciers, there would rise an ice age that would freeze all the living
things on the earth to death. All the ice and snow from the mountains will melt down to the
plains one day and thus, will shrink the world.

Q9. Explain the symbols used in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ by Frost.

Ans. Frost represents ‘fire’ as human desires and lust for things. It symbolises all the
uncontrolled materialistic greed that humans have and their actions to achieve their goals
create conflict and destruction. However, ‘ice’ is a symbol of cold feelings. It symbolises
hatred, indifference and coldness of heart with the same effects as the ‘fire’ element.

Q10. How can Frost’s poem ‘Fire and Ice’ be read as an extended metaphor?

Ans. Frost’s poem ‘Fire and Ice’ is certainly an extended metaphor. The metaphor of ‘Fire
and Ice’ is used very effectively to solidly convey a clear message to the readers. The poem
acts like a moral-mirror for readers to assess their own standing in the world. Fire
metaphorically represents and refers to violent human emotions like anger, cruelty, brutality,
etc., while the term ice refers to cold human feelings such as hatred, jealousy, indifference,
etc., that might destroy the world. The poet has used both fire and ice as great metaphors to
imply that both of the destructive forces are powerful enough to bring doom to the world.
These metaphors convey that violent and cruel human emotions are a threat to the world.

Q11. Explain why the poet personally holds the conviction that the world will primarily
end in fire? (SQP 22)

Ans. We can surely say that the poet holds the conviction that the world will end in fire. The
poet asserts that he agrees with those who believe that this world will end in fire. This is due
to the fact that he has witnessed the impact that unrestrained and endless aspirations and
desires have on people’s lives. He discovers that the fire’s nature is comparable to that of
mankind’s wicked impulses

Q1. “Fire and Ice” was first published in 1920. Briefly explain how WW I might have
influenced the theme of the poem. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]

Ans. WW I was fought between 1914 and 1918. The poem was published two years after the
war and so, there is the possibility that the war may have impacted the theme of the poem
‘Fire and Ice’. The destruction and violence and rage seen during WW I is reflected in the
poem ‘Fire and Ice’ with the two different scenarios represented by the elements of the
poem’s title. Robert Frost must have seen the destruction of the world that was the outcome
of the uncontrolled rage of people and thus believes fire to be the world-ender. Ironically, he
also adds that ice representing the ‘ hate world ‘also’ be ‘great’ to bring the end of the
world. Here the poet uses his own experiences of worldly life and its mundane truth to add a
second stanza devoted to the world-ending effect of ice i.e. hatred and indifference in the
hearts of people.

Q2. Most of your classmates, like Frost, feel that man’s greed and rage or hate, would lead
the world to its destruction. You feel that the ‘fire and ice’ in Mankind can be addressed to
create a harmonious world. Write a speech, for your classmates, expressing your beliefs
with respect to the poem. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]

Ans. A very good morning, to each and every one present in this room. Today I’m here to
express my beliefs with respect to the poem ‘Fire and Ice’. Dear friends, I strongly believe
that ‘Fire and Ice’ in Mankind can be addressed to create a harmonious world. We, humans,
are swaying between two extremes ‘Fire and Ice’. Sometimes we are torn by our unbridled
fire of passions, desires, lusts, longings and fury. This further results in greed, avarice and
passionate love. All

such extremes can lead to conflicts and disasters. If not controlled, they can help in bringing
an early end of the world. Humanity can redeem itself and possibly save or delay the end of
the world by giving up such extremes of thinking and behaviour. So let us keep burning the
fire of patriotism, solidarity and sensitivity and put ice on indifference and rigidity to create a
harmonious world around us.

Q3.It is a Hobson’s Choice that the poet faces in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’. Illustrate this
thought, with the help of examples from the poem.

Ans. The poem describes a fiery end to the planet, which represents human greed and
selfishness. Some believe that the ice, which represents hatred, will bring about the end.
Because both options would ultimately lead to catastrophe, humanity is thus faced with a
decision that really isn’t a choice at all. As all options equally contribute to personal damage,
the decisions are demonstrated on a personal level.
To underscore the significance of his message that there are no alternatives, the poet
presents the options in a concise and terse manner. The poem’s central theme of destruction
brought on by greed and hatred, which is exemplified by the saying Hobson’s Choice, gives
the poem a deep and dark undercurrent.

Q4. 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’.

Ans. In today’s world, hatred is a major problem. Brother despises his brother, and
neighbour despises his neighbour. Nobody wants to put up with or forgive anyone else. We
live in a terribly divided world as a result of the hostility. Nothing will be left untouched if
hatred continues to control our lives and the globe. All of our accomplishments will be lost,
and the planet will end. We must develop the capacity to forgive and forget if we are to save
the earth. For this, we need a tremendous amount of love and compassion, as well as the
ability to put up with one another’s differences and learn to get along.