Fire and Ice

 Fire and Ice

By

Robert Frost

Q. 1: What are the two popular views in the society regarding the destruction of the world?

Ans. : The poem deals with the tow popular views prevalent in the society regarding the destruction of the world. Some people think that the world will end in fire. But there are some others who believe that it will end in ice. The poem shows that each of them has the potential energy to bring about the destruction of the world.

Q. 2: What do 'fire' and 'ice' stand for?

Ans. In the poem, 'fire' is stands for greed, cruelty, and lust and desire whereas 'ice' is stands for hatred.

Q. 3: How does the use of language help in making the poem effective and meaningful?

Ans. In this poem the poet Robert Frost chooses words from everyday talk. The poem is full of colloquial tone and conversational language. The contrast between simple and precise vocabulary and the vague gravity of its subjects makes the poem serious and meaningful. The abrupt beginning of the opening sets the tone of the speech and makes the poem vivid and lively.

Q. 4: Comment on 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: aba abc bcb. This rhyme scheme is used to present the contrasting ideas associated with ice and fire. There is different rhyme scheme for different ideas symbolizing ‘fire’ and ‘ice’. The poet has used the rhyming beautifully to bring about contrasting ideas in the poem. He has used the ideas of two groups who believe that the world would come to a catastrophic end either as a result of fire or ice. Simultaneously, he portrays these two essential components as features of destructive human emotions: desire and hatred.

Q. 5: "But if it had to perish twice". Why does the poet use 'if' in the quotation?

Answer: By using ‘if’ in the quotation, the poet means to say that nobody knows whether the world will end in fire or in ice but the idea of the destruction of the world twice is somewhat complicated. The poet does not believe that the world will end twice.

Q. 6: Is the poet's personal view regarding the end of the world clear enough?

Answer: The poem deals with causes of the destruction of the world. In this poem the poet says that the world may end either in fire or in ice. In other words, both of them have the power to ruin the world. But the poet does not give his own stand in this regard, rather he leaves the question answered.

 

Q. 7: How does the poet keep himself at a distance from the controversies of the poem?

Ans. In the poem the poet gives an account of the belief of common men regarding the destruction of the worlds. Some people think that the world will end in the fire while others believe that it will end in ice. However, he himself keeps separate from the controversies of the poem and does not give his own stand in this regard. The repetition of the word 'some' in the poem tells us that the poet does not seem to be standing with any of the two beliefs.

Q. 8: When was the poem first published?

Ans. The poem 'Fire and Ice' was first published in Harper Magazine in December 1920. It was later collected by the poet in New Hampshire, a collection of his verses.

Q. 9: Comment on the ending of the poem.

Ans. The ending of the poem implies that not only fire but ice has also the power to bring about the destruction of the world. Thus the poet equates hatred with ice and says that both of them have a freezing effect and can be the cause of the destruction of the world.

Question 10: Comment on the structure of the poem.

Answer: The poem 'Fire and Ice’ by Robert Frost is a simple poem. It consists of nine lines. It is written in a simple and colloquial language. It is a combination of six octosyllabic lines and three tetra-syllabic lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is- aba abc bcb.

Question 11: "I think I know enough of hate". What does the speaker know about hate?

Or

‘I think I know enough of hate…’ What does the poet mean by knowing enough of hate in the poem 'Fire and Ice'?

Ans. The poet wants to convey as well as confirm he has seen and there is sufficient amount of hatred among people that can turn them against one another and thus bring the end of the world.  However he does not tell us that he has first-hand knowledge about hate or he experiences it at a distance.

Q. 12: What is enjambement? Why does the poet use this device in the present poem?

Ans. Enjambment is a continuation of one line to the next line. In this poem we can see a perfect example of ‘Enjambment’ in the 7th line. The poet used this device to reveal the tension needed for a perfect disappointment. This disappointment comes from the poet's fear when he thinks that ice is no less powerful than fire and, like fire, it is also harmful for human civilization. The poet says that it works silently.

Q. 13: Do you think that either of fire and ice has the power to ruin the world?

Answer: Yes, I think that that either of fire and ice has the power to ruin the world. We believe that the world will come to an end someday, but nobody knows when and how it happens. The world may destroy if it becomes hot by the heat of the sun. It may also ruin if it gets colder. In both cases, the destruction of the world is certain.

Q. 14: What do you think would be enough to destroy the world? Can fire and ice contribute to it?

Ans. The desires and hatred among people 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 the whole world one day. In the same way 'hatred' fills life with poison and makes it Hell.

Q. 15: What is the underlying idea of the poem, 'Fire and Ice?

Ans. The poem is a mediation on the end of the poem. In it the poet equates fire with 'desire' and ice with 'hatred'. Both of these are growing rapidly among people. If we don't check them, the world will certainly perish. So we must control our desires and love our fellow beings in order to avoid the early end to the world. .

Q, 16: Which two ideas about how the world will end have been mentioned in the poem? Which idea does the poet support more?

Ans. The two ideas expressed by two different group of people mentioned are that the world will end in fire or in ice. Though the poet thinks both are destructive, yet he seems to favour with the idea of the destruction of the world in fire a little more than in ice.

Q. 17: According to the poet, what do 'fire' and 'ice' represent? Do you agree with him?

Ans. According to the poet, 'fire' represents desire and 'ice' represents hatred. I do agree with the poet. Like fire, desires spread rapidly and engulf one's whole life. Similarly, 'hatred' fills the whole life with poison.

Q. 18: What do people think about the ending of the world? What does the poet think?

Ans. Some people think that the world will end in fire. On the other hand, some people say that it will end in ice. The poet has experienced both the fire and the ice. The poet thinks that the world will end in fire. Here, fire stands for desire.

Q. 19: How will the world end twice?

Ans. The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. Here, fire stands for desire and ice stands for hatred. The poet thinks that the rapidly growing desires of people will end the world. If it survives, it will be destroyed by hatred.