LAST MINUTE REVISION POETRY SECTION Poem 2 — FIRE AND ICE by Robert Frost

key point

 The poet felt that the world of ours would come to an end, but he was not sure how. 

He came to the conclusion on the basis of what people said regarding the ending of the world. 

Two highly contrasting but powerful elements of nature-fire and ice would end the world. 

In the 1st stanza, the poet agreed with those who believed that the fire would cause the end of the world. Fire stands for strong, unlimited, uncontrolled desires of humans (of greed, power, and money) which would end the world.
 The 2nd element ice stands for -hatred, indifference, cold reasoning, intolerance which would end the world. 

The poet himself had experienced enough hate born out of desire.

If the world survived after being destroyed by unlimited desire, it would be destroyed the 2nd time by hatred, indifference and intolerance.
 Theme – the theme of the poem is the old age question, whether the world would end in fire or ice. The opinion is divided; some think natural element of fire would destroy the world. Some think ice would
destroy the world.

 Rhyme scheme -abaa ,bcbcb
Assonance-long sound of ‘O’ in ‘I hold with those who favour fire’

Alliteration-sound of ‘f ‘ in ‘I hold with those who favour fire’

Imagery-‘some say the world will end in fire’ ‘To say that for destruction ice,is also great ‘

Symbolism -FIRE symbolises strong, unlimited, uncontrolled human desire of greed, power etc ICE symbolises hatred, indifference, cold reasoning, intolerance.

Anaphora –some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice.’

Personification-Fire and Ice have been personified

Enjambment-From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favour fire .’

IMPORTANT QUESTION ANSWER
1.What do you think would be enough to destroy the world? Can fire and ice contribute to it, How?

2.What is the underlying idea of the poem -Fire and Ice?
3.-How will the world end twice?