CLASS X LITERATURE WORKSHEET (2021-22)

FIRST FLIGHT
POEM 2 – FIRE AND ICE

- By Robert Frost
THE POEM
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.
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.

About the Poet

Robert Frost was born in San Francisco, but his family moved to
Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1884 following his father’s death. The
move was actually a return, for Frost’s ancestors were originally New
Englanders, and Frost became famous for his poetry’s engagement
with New England locales, identities, and themes. Frost graduated
from Lawrence High School, in 1892, as class poet (he also shared the
honor of co-valedictorian with his wife-to-be Elinor White), and two
years later, the New York Independent accepted his poem entitled “My Butterfly,” launching his status
as a professional poet with a check for $15.00. Frost's first book was published around the age of 40,
but he would go on to win a record four Pulitzer Prizes and become the most famous poet of his time,
before his death at the age of 88.

About the poem

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.
Summary
The speaker weighs up two different scenarios for the end of the world. Some people think the world
will end in fire, whereas others think ice is more likely. Based on the speaker's experiences with
desire, he or she tends to agree with those who believe fire is the more likely scenario. If the world
were to end twice, however, the speaker feels that, based on his or her knowledge of human hatred,
ice would be an equally powerful method of destruction—and would do the job sufficiently.

Theme –
As this poem is about the apocalypse, the poet expresses how the world will end. Some people
believe that the world will be destroyed by fire, while others argue that it will be frozen. Initially,
the speaker also supports those who are in favour of fire. But, as the poem progresses, he remains
undecided and mentions that if the world ends twice the ice can bring equal destruction as fire. The
poet, very artistically, underpins the deep philosophy that we let our emotions rule us and if we don’t
control them, they will surely destroy everything around us.
Major Themes in “Fire and Ice”: Hatred and power of emotions are the major themes of the poem.
The poet discusses the destructive features of human emotions. He uses the symbol of fire and ice to
show how desires and hatred contribute to making the world stand at the verge of chaos. Also, these
powerful emotions will eventually drag the world toward a catastrophic end.

Key Points

 The poem has been written symbolically.

 The poet says that there are mainly two opinions about the end of this world, one by fire and
another by ice.
 The symbols-‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’ have been used for human emotions like desire and hatred
respectively.
 As fire can spread very fast and cause a great destruction in no time likewise our desires may
also prove very destructive if they go out of control.
 Hatred causes slow destruction like ice but it is also very harmful.

Poetic Devices –
1.Imagery – words like ‘fire’ , ‘ice’
2. Alliteration - the sound of /f/ in “I hold with those who favor fire”.
3. Enjambment
4. Rhyme Scheme
5. Assonance - “I hold with those who favor fire”.
6. Symbolism: Symbolism is a use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic
meanings different from their literal meanings. “Fire” is the symbol of desires and “Ice” symbolizes
hatred. Similarly, “green” and “gold” are the symbol of beauty and happiness.
7. Anaphora – ‘some’
8. Personification: Personification is to give human qualities to inanimate objects. In this poem, “Fire”
and “Ice” are capable of destruction. Therefore, the poet personifies fire and ice by giving them a
mind which is capable of destroying almost anything.

Practice Questions
1. Discuss how extreme behavior can hasten the end of the world with respect to ‘Fire and Ice'.
Ans - 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 lives.
2. The poem ‘Fire and Ice’, carries with it very deep thematic ideas. Elaborate on these darkest
traits of humanity.
Ans - 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.
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?

Extra Questions
Stanza 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) How will the world end according to the poet ?

b) How is 'fire and ice' symbolised ?
c)Mention the poetic devices with examples from the stanza.
d)Explain the phrase 'those who favour fire'.

Stanza 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 will prerish twice ?

b) What will suffice and why ?
c)Mention the poetic devices with examples from the stanza.
d)Why does the poet have this opinion ? Justify.

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