Class - 10

-
First Flight MCQs
Shudy Palh) Poem 2: Fire and Ice
1. Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?
(a) because love among people is increasing fast.
(b) because hatred among people is increasing fast.
(c) because the lust for material things is increasing quickly.
(d) None of the Above

Answer: (c) because the lust for material things is increasing quickly.

2. What will the world end in?

(a) Fire and Ice
(b) Fire
(c) lce
(d) None of the Above

Answer: (a) Fire and lce

3. What will fire do to the world?

(a) put the world to an end.
(b) put the world to a new beginning.
(c) make the world developed
(d) None of the Above

Answer: (a) put the world to an end.

4. Name the poetic device used in the line "To say that for destruction ice is also great".
(a) Metaphor
(b) Imagery
(c) Alliteration
(d) Oxymoron

Answer: (b) Imagery

5. Name the poetic device used in the line "I hold with those who favour fire".
(a) Assonance
(b) Alliteration
(c) None
(d) Both

Answer: (b) Aliteration

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 Class - 10
First Flight- MCQs
Sudy Talh) Poem 2: Fire and lce
6. What would bea better option to end the earth?
(a) fire
(b) ice
(c) both are equally competent
(d) none

Answer: (c) both are equally competent

7. What is the meaning of "perish"?

(a) bloom
(b) rise
(c) die
(d) glow

Answer: (c) dies

8.Who is the poet of

the poem "Fire and lce"?
(a) Leslie Norris
(b) Robert Frost
(c) Carolyn Wells
(d) Robin Klein

Answer: (b) Robert Frost

9. Where has he used personification?

(a) fire
(b) ice
(c)earth
(d) both 1 and 2

Answer: (d) both 1 and 2

10. Name the poetic device used in the line "Some say the world will end in fire".
(a) Metaphor
(b) Imagery
(C)Alliteration
(d) Oxymoron

Answer: (b) Imagery

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 Class - 10
-
First Flight MCQs
Sudy Palh) Poem 2: Fire and Ice
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the
most appropriate alternative from those given below:

(A)

say the world will end in fire

Some say in ice
From what I've tasted of desire
Ihold with those who favour fire.

1. From which poem have these lines been taken?

(a) Dust of Snow
(b) Fire and Ice
(c) Amanda
(d) A Tiger in the Zoo

Answer: (b) Fire and Ice

2. Who composed these lines?

(a) Ogden Nash
(b) Carl Sandburg
(c) W.B. Yeats
(d) Robert Frost

Answer: (d) Robert Frost

3. Word 'hold with' means

(a) avenge
(b) disagrees
(c) agree
(d) take care

Answer: (c) agree

4. The cause of man's destruction is

(a) family
(b) gold
(c) lust
(d) money

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 -
Class 10
-
First Flight MCQs
Study Palh) Poem 2: Fire and Ice
Answer: (c) lust

(B)

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.

1. Who composed these lines?

(a) Robert Frost
(b)Robin Klein
(c) Carolyn Wells
(d) Leslie Norris

Answer: (a) Robert Frost

2. If the world is to perish twice, the poet favours

(a) atom bomb
(b) water
(c) ice
(d) fire

Answer: (d) fire

3. What enough to destroy the world is

(a) dictatorship
(b) affection
(c) love
(d) hatred

Answer: (d) hatred

4. The word 'suffice' means

(a) less
(b) to be enough
(c) least
(d) more than need

Answer: (b) to be enough

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 Class-10
English - Extra Questions
Shudy
alh Chapter 1: Fire and lce
Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What is'fire' a symbol of?

Answer: 'Fire is a symbol of lust and endless desires.

2.What is 'lce' a symbol of?

Answer: 'ice is a symbolof hatred

3. What will fire do to the world?

Answer: Fire will put the world to an end.

4. What will the world end in?

Answer: The world willend in the fire as well as ice.

5. Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?
Answer: The poet holds with those who favour fire because the lust for material things
is increasing quickly.

6. Why do some people say that the world will end in ice?
Answer: They say so because hatred among people is increasing fast.

7. Who is the poet of the poem 'Fire and Ice'?

Answer: Robert Frost.

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 Class-10
English - Extra Questions
Study Palh)
Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
Short Answer Type Questions

1.What do you think would be enough to destroy the world? Can Fire and Ice contribute
to it?

Answer: Our desires and hatred 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 one's whole life. Similarly, 'hatred' fills life with poison.

2. What is the underlying idea of the poem 'Fire and Ice'?

Answer: The poet equates fire with desire' and ice with 'hatred'. Both of these are
growing with enormous speed. If we don't check them from growing, the world will
perish. So we must restrain our desires and love our fellow-beings.

3. Which two ideas about how the world will end have been mentioned in the poem?
Which idea does the poet support more?

Answer: The two ideas mentioned are that the world will end in fire or in ice. Though
the poet thinks both are great for destruction, yet he seems to favour the idea of the
destruction of the world in a fire a little more than in ice.

4. What does fire' and ice' stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the
world?
Or
According to the poet, what does 'fire' and 'ice' represent? Do you agree with him?

Answer: According to the poet, 'fire' represents desire and 'ice' represents hatred. Ido
agree with the poet. Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf one's whole life.
Similarly 'hatred' fills the whole life with poison. It makes one hard-hearted and cruel.

5. What do people think about the ending of the world? What does the poet think?

Answer: Some people think that someday the world will end in fire. On the other hand.
some people say. that it will end in ice. The poet has tasted both the fire and the ice. He
thinks that the world will end in fire. Here fire stands for the tire of desire.

6. How will the world end twice?

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 Class-10
English - Extra Questions
Ralk)
udy Chapter 1: Fire and lce
Answer: The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. Here fire stands for the
heat of desire and ice stands for hatred He thinks that our violent desires will end the
world. Ifit survives, it will be ruined by hatred.

7. What is the main idea of the poem?

Answer: The main idea of the poem is that there are violent passions in the world. They
are destructive. But mare distinctive Mail those violent desires is the hatred between
man and man. The poet thinks that one day this hatred will destroy the world.

8. Will this world come to an end? What does the poet say in this regard?

Answer: Everything that has a beginning or origin, does have an end. It is an eternal law
of nature. The existing world will come to an end, someday. The poet believed many
people believe that either 'fire' or 'ice' will be the cause of the end of the world.

9. What do people think about the end of the world? Who does the poet side with and
why?

Answer: People are divided over the cause of the end of this world. Some people think
that 'fire' symbolised by unbridled passions, desires and fury will destroy this world.
Others believe that 'ice' symbolised by cold reasoning, indifference and hatred will be
the cause of destruction. The poet sides with those who believe that 'fire' or unbridled
passions and desires will result in the destruction of the world.

10. Why does the poet say, I've tasted of desire/I hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet is familiar with the fire of passions and desires in love. He knows it
quite well that are uncontrolled desires, passions and fury lead to our destruction.
Similarly, he sides with those people who believe that 'fire' symbolised by unbridled
passions and desires with be the real cause of the end of the world.

11. What will be the cause of the end of the world if it has to perish twice?

Answer: This world is not eternal. Its end is certain. The poet sides with those people
who think that 'fire' will cause the end of the existing world. But if this world has to
perish twice the ice' is as strong to bring the end of the world as 'fire' is. Icy reasoning
devoid of human love and sympathy and hatred is sufficient to bring an end of this
world.

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 Class-10
English - Extra Questions
Study Path Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
12. How does the poet 'know enough of hate'? Where will this 'hate' lead to?

Answer:'lcy' or cold reasoning can lead to rigidity, indifference and insensitiveness.

This can take away all warmth of human feelings, love and sympathy. The result can be
disastrous. 'Hatred' born out of cold and 'lcy' reasoning can lead to the destruction of
the world.

13. How will 'ice' be as 'great' and 'suffice' for causing the end of this existing world? Do
you agree with the poet?

Answer: There is no need for'fire' to destroy the world. Even'ice' is sufficient and
'strong' enough to cause the destruction of this world. If this world has to perish twice',
then there is no need for fire to destroy it twice. 'Ice' is as 'strong' and 'great'a cause
that can cause the end of this world.

14. What is the message of the poem 'Fire and Ice'?

Answer: The metaphors of 'fire' and 'ice' are used very effectively to convey a definite
message to the readers. 'Fire' here stands for our unbridled, uncontrolled and
unchecked passions, desires, lust and fury. Such passions are disastrous for human
beings. Similarly cold reasoning devoid of all human warmth, love, sympathy will bring
insensitivity, cruelty and rigidity. This hatred will lead to the end of this world.

15. From when I have tasted of desire

Ihold with those who favour fire.
Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet sides with those who believe that the world will be destroyed by fire.
"Fire' is a symbol of desire. The poet has already experienced desire. On the basis of his
experience, he knows that excessive desire will destroy the world. That is why he holds
with those who favour fire.

16. But if it has to perish twice

think I know enough of hate.
I

What does 'it' refer to? How will it perish twice?

Answer: 'It' here refers to the world. The poet says that people hold different opinions
about the end of the world. Some say 'fire', which stands for 'desire', will destroy the
world. Secondly, 'ice', which stands for 'hatred' can also destroy the world.

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 Class-1O
English - Extra Questions
udy Palh)
Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
17. To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
In the poem what does 'ice' stand for? How is it sufficient to bring destruction?

Answer: 'Ice' stands for 'hatred'. Hatred may be religious, communal or of any other
type. According to the poet, there is enough hatred in the world which will destroy the
external, physical world one day.

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 Class-10
English - Extra Questions
Shudy Talh
Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
Long Answer Type Questions

1. How does the poem depicts the two contrasting ideas--'Fire' and 'Ice'? Can hatred
destroy us and the world? Explain bringing out values which can make this world a
better place to live in.

Answer: (i) In this poem, Robert Frost refers to two contrasting ideas-Fire and Ice as
predictions of how the world will end. According to him, some people say that the
world will end in a fire while some others hold that this will end in ice. The poet
equates desire with fire and hatred with ice. Both the desire and hatred are growing
with such a rapid speed that the world will come to an end either of the ways.
(ii) Yes, hatred can destroy us and the world. Intolerance in behaviour creates hatred
that leads to fury and cruelty. One becomes hard-hearted and insensitive to the feelings
of others.
(iii) Love, brotherhood, tolerance,peace, contentment, sensitivity, benevolence,
generosity among people can make this world a better place to live in.

2. 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 in the first stanza is a, b; a band in the second
stanza it is - a, b, a, b, a.
The lines ending with the same rhythm have the same idea but the line that ends with a
different note has the contrasting idea. In the first stanza, the first, third and fourth
lines end with the words fire, desire, fire - same rhythm but the second line ends with
the word 'ice', a different note, also it contrasts with 'fire'.
Thus the poet has brought out the contrasting ideas in the poem by using different
rhythms.

3. There are many ideas about how this world will come to an 'end'. What are they? Do
you agree with the poet and his understanding of the poet and his understanding of the
issue in this regard?

Answer: Almost all think that this world will end at one time or the other. It is true that
everything that has a beginning or origin will come to an end too. There are many ideas
about how this world will come to an end. Some think that 'fire' will be the cause of the
'end' of the world. Others believe that 'ice' will bring the end of the world. Both of these
ideas have their valid reasons. The poet sides and stands with those who believe that
'fire' will be the cause of the 'end'. The poet is well aware of how the 'fire' of unbridled

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 Class-10
English - Extra Questions
alh
udy Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
passions, desires, lust, and fury can lead to the destruction of humanity and the world.
But the other view is equally convincing. Cold and 'icy' reasoning can create
insensitiveness, rigidity, frigidity, and indifference in man. Ultimately, it breeds 'hatred'
and contempt. This kind of "icy' reasoning which is devoid of all human warmth,
sympathy, love, and understanding will only bring destruction and death of this world.
Ibelieve that both 'fire' and 'ice' have strong potentialities to bring disasters and
destruction to the world.

4. What do the metaphors of 'ice' and 'fire' convey to the readers? Don't they represent
the two extremes of human behaviour that can lead to the destruction and death of this
world? What is the message that the poet wants to give to the readers?

Answer: The poet has touched the universal issue of the ending of this existing world.
He gives a message as well as a warning to human beings. Man is swaying between two
extremes -´fire' and 'ice'. Sometimes he is torn by his unbridled fire of passions,
desires, lusts, longings, and fury. This results in greed, avarice and passionate love. All
such extremes can lead to unavoidable conflicts and disasters. If not controlled, they
can help in bringing an early end of this world.
The other extreme behaviour of human beings is born out of cold and 'icy' reasoning.
When our cold reasoning becomes completely devoid of human warmth, feelings, love,
and sympathy,it breeds hatred. Hatred born out of cold indifference, insensitivity and
rigidity are strong enough to cause the end of this world. Humanity can redeem itself
and possibly save or delay the end of the world by giving up such extremes of thinking
and behaviour.

Fire and lce Extract Based Questions

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1.Some say the world will end in fire

Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
Ihold with those who favour fire.

a. What do people think about the ending of the world?

b. What is the poet's opinion?
c. What does 'desire' mean here?

d. Name the poem and the poet.

Page 2 of 4
 Class-10
English - Extra Questions
Sludy Palh
Chapter 1: Fire and lce
Answer:
a. Some people think that the world willend in fire. Others say that it will end in ice.
b. The poet thinks it right that the world will end in fire.
c. Here, 'desire' means
man's passions and violence.
d. The poem is 'Fire and Ice' and the poet is Robert Frost'.

2. But if it had to perish twice.

think Iknow enough of hate
I

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great
And would suffice.

a. What does 'it' refer to here?

b. How is ice' sufficient for destruction?
c. What is the main idea of these lines?
d. What is ice a symbol of?

Answer:
a. Here, 'it' refers to the 'world'.

b.'lce' symbolises hatred. So hatred is sufficient for the world's destruction.

c. The main idea of these lines is
that hatred can destroy the world.
d. Ice is a symbol ofhatred.
Fire and Ice Self- Assessment Test

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. But if it had to perish twice,

Ithink I
know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

a. What is 'it' referred to?

b. What does the poet know enough?
c. According to the poet, what is great for destruction?

d. Which poetic device is used in the third line of stanza?

Short Answer Questions

Page 3 of 4
 Class-10
English - Extra Questions
Shudy ruth)
Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
1. What do 'fire' and 'ice' stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the world?
2. What is the main idea of the poem?
3. Why does the poet compare hate to ice?
4.Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?
5. How will the world perish twice?

Long Answer Questions

1. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the
contrasting ideas in the poem?
2. In this world, nothing is immortal. Explain, with reference to the poem, Fire and lce'.

Page 4 of 4
 Class-1U
English - Summary
Shudy Palh) Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
Short Summary
This article is about the Fire and Ice summary. Its poet is Robert Frost. He presents two
opposite views about the end of humanity and the world. He discusses these two
possibilities which will be the reason for the end of the world. One such possibility is
the world ending in flames of fire. It is so, because when he ponders over the burning
flames of desires of people. These will definitely hurl the world into another nuclear
war, and hence it will burn up the entire world in flames. The second possibility for the
end of the world is due to the ice.
The poet has a strong feeling that people have so much hatred in their hearts against
each other that it will be sufficient to freeze the entire planet towards death. So, the fire
due to evil desires and ice of wicked hatred are the two opposite opinions enough to
destroy the world.

Summary in Detail
The poet is very much sure of the destruction of humanity on someday. He is talking
about the two different beliefs regarding the end of this world. These are on the basis of
the sayings of the people. The poet says that he is in favour of those people who say this
world will end in fire. This is because he has seen the effect and result of uncontrolled
and unending desires over the life of human beings. He finds that human evil desires
are similar to the fire in its nature. So this fire may become a big reason to destroy
humankind and this world too.
On the other hand, the second belief in this regard saysthat ice is also sufficient for
destroying this world. Here the poet compares the nature of ice with hatred feelings of
humans with the other humans. As ice can make the body numb with its prolonged
contact, similarly hatred can also give the numbness to our mind and thoughts. And
hence it can make us insensitive and cruel. Such cruelty towards humanity will be more
responsible for the destruction of the world compared to the desire.

The speaker brings us all into the middle of the argument between two different
categories of the people. One who thinks that the world will comne to a fiery end and
other people who think the world will freeze resulting to the end. Poet is possibly
talking about the literal end of the world. But he is also talking about the power that
human beings have to destroy each other.
The poet experiences the romantic desire that he has taught the passion for emotions
like love and lust. These will probably have the power to turn the earth into a big
fireball. But he has also experienced the other extreme side. This is about colder
emotions like hate which have great destructive power. It is a common fact that love
Page 1 of 2
 Class-10
English - Summary
Study Palh) Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
gets all the publicity, whereas hate is the silent killer. It may not have the same effect as
the fireball ending, but it will do the trick.
Conclusion of Fire and Ice

The poem is revolving around the theme that human emotions are destructive, and has
two possible forms.

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 Class-10
English - NCERT Solutions
Shudy Palh)
Chapter 1: Fire and Ice
Thinking about the Poem

Question 1. There are many ideas about how the world will 'end'. Do you think the
world willend 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 some day as anything that has a beginning will have an end. This
stands true for the world also, if the Sun got so hot that it burst, 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 intolerancerigidity
insensitivity coldness indifference hatred

Answer: 'Fire' stands for greed, avarice, lust, conflict and fury. 'lce' 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 abcbcb

This rhyme scheme helps in bringing out the contrasting ideas 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 be a cause of
the end of 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 the
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.

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