NOTES: POEM:1 FIRE & ICE
Introduction
Robert Frost’s poem “Fire and Ice” expresses the profound idea that the world would end in
either of two ways, either by ice or fire. Both the components are compared with self-
destructing human emotions: hatred and desire. The poem, very artistically, underpins the
philosophy that we let our emotions rule us and if don’t control them they will surely destroy
everything around us. Similarly, he thinks fire and ice, both are just as competent in bringing
the world to a catastrophic end.
Fire and Ice Poem and Explanation
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.
The poem expresses the profound idea that the world would end in either of two ways, either
by ice or fire. One group is of the opinion that someday the Earth’s core will get so heated up
that it would lead to fire destroying the earth’s surface. On the other hand, the second group
says that if the temperature goes down to an extent that makes life on Earth impossible, it
would have the same catastrophic effect. The poet then compares fire and ice with the
destructive features of human emotions; desire and hatred. He says that from what he is
aware about “fiery desires”, he would favour the ones who say that it would be fire. By saying
so, he brings about the idea that human beings let their emotions rule them and the
consequence of unmonitored longing is chaos.
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.
Then by not waving off the first option of fire, he considers if the world has to expire twice,
ice would be equally competent in ending it. He brings about a contrast between “ice” and
“hatred”. The human capability of insensitivity and hatred has the potential for inner
destruction. Though slow and steady, it has the same effect that desire has on us. So if given
an option between fire and ice, ice would be just as good as fire to destroy the world.
FIRE-At first, the poem seems like it could be discussing natural disasters as events that
might bring about the end of the world. The "fire" of line 1 could be interpreted as a meteor
event, for example—the kind that most likely devastated the dinosaurs. But from line 3
onwards, it becomes clear that the "fire" in this poem is more symbolic than literal (though
the former doesn't exclude the latter). The speaker directly links "desire" with "fire," which
asks the reader to call on the symbolic associations that they have with the element.
Accordingly, fire comes to stand for inflamed passion, greed, bloodlust—scenarios in which
humanity brings about destruction by acting rashly and violently. War, of course, would be a
prime example, and so the poem is gently suggestive of the kind of wars the could bring
about the end of the world. It's also important to remember the positive associations of fire:
warmth and light. These symbolic qualities don't feel very present in the poem, underscoring
the speaker's implicit belief that, one way or another, humanity is fated to bring about the end
of the world.
ICE-
In line 2, the end-world scenario brought about by ice could be interpreted as an ice age or
the death of the sun. But from line 3, when the symbolic association between fire and desire
is established, it becomes clear that the ice is also not primarily—or exclusively—literal.
Indeed, from line 5 onwards, the poem makes the connotations of ice more clear. The speaker
draws a link between ice and hate, putting forward the proposition that ice is "also great" for
bringing about the end of the world. Though "fire" might be a kind of hate too, the hatred
symbolized by ice is more about indifference or a failure to empathize.
Thinking about the Poem
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 someday as anything that has a beginning will have an ending. This stands
true for the world also. If the sun got so hot that it bursts, 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: greed,
avarice, cruelty, lust, conflict, fury, intolerance, rigidity, insensitivity, coldness,
indifference, hatred
Answer: ‘Fire’ stand 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 ides 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 bring an end to 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 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.
Long Answer (Value Based) Type Extra Questions
Question 1.
Discuss how extreme behaviour can hasten the end of the world with respect to ‘Fire and Ice’.
Answer:
‘Fire’ symbolises desire and ‘Ice’ symbolises hatred. Desire is a kind of intense love or want
that focuses people on getting and possessing and acquiring. Our society is full of people who
spend their lives working to get a bigger and better TV, a more stylish car or a more
extravagant house. This kind of desire can lead people to destruction in the form of
bankruptcy or even broken relationships. Frost’s poem speaks on the issue of greed
corrupting people and even society. The power of hate, which is symbolised by ice is just as
great as desire. While desire consumes quickly hate produces shy yet restrained devastation.
For instance, Kate is the root cause of racism and war. It can linger in people’s mind for
lifetimes. Moreover, it consumes the hater even more than the person hated. It thus, ruins
live.
Question 2.
The poem ‘Fire and Ice’, carries with it very deep thematic ideas. Elaborate on these darkest
traits of humanity.
Answer:
Frost presents the two of the darkest traits of humanity; the capacity to hate and the capacity
to be consumed by lust or desire. Of the two, he attributes the greater of the two evils, is
desire. In giving desire the foremost position with regard to the destruction of the world,
Frost is providing a powerful statement on the subject of greed and jealousy, saying that
above all trait of humanity that is most likely to lead to its demise. Desire represents the
greatest problem that attributes to the cause of the war. Frost then attributes hatred with the
same capacity to do harm. However, he lessens the relative importance of hatred but still
presents it as having the ability to lead to the destruction of the world if it were to happen for
a second time.
Question 3.
The poet presents two reasons which will lead to the destruction of the humanity. What
values do you garner from the two possible causes provided by him?
Answer:
The poet provides and deals with two possible causes for the end of the world. He points
more towards the emotional and sentimental side of the issue. As for him, fire denotes deep
passion and burning desire, while ice is highlighted for its icy cold and hatred side of the
emotions. He favours both the arguments and says that either the deep burning passion or the
cold hatred and jealousy factor will push the people to walk on the path of destruction. The
poet is sure of this destruction of humanity. He first talks about the destruction because of fire
and in case this fails, then ice will end the world. The love that people have for one another
will turn into hatred. In race of climbing up and outdo one another, people will tend to hate
each other. These negative emotions will become so strong that it will surpass all the love and
lead to the destruction of humanity.
Question 4.
How will the world end? Support your answer with scientific explanation.
Answer: According to the scientists, the two reasons for the destruction of the world will be
either fiery core or the ice age. Some scientists believed that the world would be incinerated
from its fiery core, while others were convinced that a coming ice age would destroy all
living things on the Earth’s surface. In other words, either the deep heat or fire under the
Earth beds will lead to natural calamities like volcano eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis
which will one day end the world or the melting of ice from the snowy mountains due to
global warming will shrink the world. As a result, one day the entire world will die of the icy
water. Frost, thus, tries to warn people against the two greatest
problems facing humanity and the consequences of human vices with an increased
effectiveness.
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow-
Some say the world will end in
fireSome say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
(a) What do people think of the world?
(b) What is the poet’s opinion about the world?
(c) Which two things will destroy the world?
(d) What is the prediction of the people about how the world will come to an end?
Ans. (a) The world will be destroyed with fire and ice.
(b) The poet thinks that we should check our growing desires and love our fellow-
beings.
(c) Hatred and Desire.
(d) Some people say that the world will come to an end in a fire while others say it will
come to an end in ice.
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) Why does the poet feel that ‘ice’ is also great for destruction?
(b) What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza of the poem?
(c) The two things that the poet thinks are good enough for destruction are
(d) What does ‘it’ stand for in the first line?
Ans. (a) Ice equates with `hatred’, which is enough to destroy the world.
(b) a b a b a.
(c) fire and ice which means ‘hatred’ and `desire’
(d) `it’ here stands for the world.
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