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Terms in this set (5) What two emotions does the speaker compare fire and ice to? Read it several times. 7. One is of the opinion that fire alone can . Frost has tasted desire and it is connected with fire. Thus, the poet conveys a great message that we should learn to live in harmony and peace to keep this world habitable for generations to come. Fire and Ice are composed of nine lines that alternate between three rhyming sounds the rhyming summary for Fire and Ice is ABA ABC BCB. The main symbolism of ice is coolness, of course, but it can also mean many other things sometimes implicit, too. The article is basically dealt with an application of stylistics devices in Robert Frost's poem "Fire and Ice". These lines are based on mere hearsaySome saywho says?expertsthe guy on the street, the woman in the bar? In the same line fire and ice is used as a symbol of desire and hatred. Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth summary a. We serve cookies on this site to offer, protect and improve our services. Many of his poems are about the natural world, with woods and trees featuring prominently in some of his most famous and widely anthologised poems (The Road Not Taken, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Birches, Tree at My Window). From those two alliterative opening lines, the reader is drawn into the rhetorical argument - fire or ice for the end of the world? Fire and Ice is a short rhyming poem Frost wrote in 1920 that was probably inspired by Dante's Inferno, Canto 32 (the first book of his 14th century Divine Comedy) which deals with the subject of sinners in a fiery hell, up to their necks in a lake of ice. (read the full definition & explanation with examples). Both of these are two completely opposite elements. 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. Ice is equally potent like fire to end the life of human beings. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /f/ in I hold with those who favor fire. I hold with those who favor fire. The elements of fire and ice mentioned in the poem, and foregrounded in its title, are two of the four Aristotelian or classical elements, along with earth and air (although ice is usually just described as water, Frost whose very surname here summons the icy conditions of one half of the poem is purposely summoning these classical elements). Any good Robert Frost poetry analysis begins with gathering data. Fire represent desire and ice is equated with hate, both are antithesis to each other. Some of Frost's most famous poems include Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Nothing Gold Can Stay, Mending Wall, The Road Not Taken, and Fire and Ice. And would suffice. Short, crisp, and to-the-point, he conveys a very profound message in just 9 lines. Sign up to unveil the best kept secrets in poetry. In Thompson's words, "the poem Fire and Ice is a masterpiece of condensation.". Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the long sound of /o/ in I hold with those who favor fire. More Poems by Frost The poem opens with a profound idea about the end of the world. The poem Fire and Ice talks about the end of the world. This lesson is about the poem Fire and Ice by Robert Frost. The poem is a real piece of act and fancy. These two things are fire and ice. In this video, Robert Frost is interviewed by author Bela Kornitzer in 1952. 2. Fire and Ice is written as a series of nine lines, alternating between three rhyming sounds ABA ABC BCB being the rhyming summary for Fire and Ice.It features a narrator describing the end of the world in their own vision, and it's largely simplistic. The poet uses these two primal elements to serve as a metaphor for the destructive powers of the universal human emotions. This is just two years after the end of the First World War, and a time when revolution, apocalypse, and social and political chaos were on many people's minds. "Fire and Ice" is a popular poem by American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963). According to Frosts biographers, the poem was inspired by a passage in Dantes Inferno, Canto 32. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Though this trip occurred decades later than the composition of "Fire and Ice," it was no less about the potential end of the world. The poem has a symbolic, even allegorical quality to it, which makes more sense when it is analysed in its literary and historical context. The poet thinks if the world has to perish once more, ice would be the destroyer then. This might not be an all inclusive meaning and can be totally unrelatable but with faith on the poets foresight, we stick to what is logical and then succumb to the beauty of his creativity. Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold. Frost chooses the fast-flowing, less serious iambic tetrameter mixed with iambic duometer over the more serious, slower-moving iambic pentameter as a framework for his understated theme of the worlds destruction and potential salvation, a meter that brings to the forefront his use of meiosis: he casually states I hold with those who favor fire (4), and for destruction ice / Is also great / and would suffice (7-9) to comment on cataclysmic events. Students can also checkEnglish Summaryto revise with them during exam preparation. The fire symbolises burning desires while the ice on the other hand describes ice-cold hatred. Moving Away By: Elaina Marks Some say moving can be great, Some say it causes hate. Fire is compared to desire when Frost states . He compares "desire" to "fire" and "hate" to "ice." Both desire and hate are represented . Literary Devices are used by writers and poets to add distinctiveness and complexity to plain works. The content of the poem seems ill suited for the quicker paced, faster flowing tetrameter. The poet, therefore, compares desire to fire. help. The file includes the following: * two word study activities * a mini-lesson about Robert Frost * questions for students to analyze the poem * an activity for students to create their own poem in the same style and then analyze/explain its meaning * an analysis activity in which students must analyze poems and then write an essay If . Eliot Poems That are So Memorable to Poem Lovers, Humorous Limericks That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud, Analysis of the Short Story Eveline by James Joyce. In an ironically conversational tone, the speaker adds that icewhich represents hate and indifferencewould "also" be "great" as a way of bringing about the end of the world. The poem is a real piece of . I hold with those who favor fire. "Some say the world will end in fire,". Robert Frost's own powerful reading of the poem. This poem is known for its simplicity and biting message, as well as its call to stop and think, offering a different perspective on the end of everything. The poem analysis of Fire and Ice by Robert Frost has led to the following observations and queries. To say that for destruction ice (b) (Serio, 9). Robert Frost's Fire and Ice comprises of 1 stanza with 9 lines. How did Oedipus Solve the Riddle of the Sphinx in Sophocles Play? The poet-speaker knows quite well how all these evils put an end to human life. These two extremes, he expostulates, will eventually destroy the world. Meter Mostly iambic tetrameter with a few lines of iambic duometer. Robert Frost begins by stating his beliefs that the world would end either because of the two, the fire or the ice. The poem Fire and Ice is composed by Robert Frost. Analysis. Punishment for man is inevitable; it is only a matter of what kind of punishment man shall receive for his perversion of morals. . Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. I think that the symbol of fire in Frost's poem is representing desire, and passion. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The world will end in fire, according to the speaker. In these lines, the poet says that there are two theories held by the general people about how the world will be destroyed. Shapley replied that either the sun will explode and burn the Earth, or the Earth will slowly be freezing in the deep space. In addition, he brings out the presence of conflicting views as to the punishment of sins and more so how the world will end. This is a fascinating article about the time President Kennedy sent Robert Frost to Russia in the 1960s inan effort to help defuse tensions. Robert Frosts Fire and Ice is about destruction, the central theme of the poem. If you listen to the video carefully, Robert Frost speaks in an almost offhand way as if saying to the reader - you make your mind up which method (of destruction) you prefer. By Robert Frost. In a way, this poem is a call to act, to stop arguing about the how how will this happen? and start debating the what what can we do to stop it?. Additional materials, such as the best quotations, synonyms and word definitions to make your writing easier are also offered here. Robert Frost (1874-1963) is regarded as one of the greatest American poets of the twentieth century. you Print out the poem. These first few lines describe the disagreement in general society on the topic of how the world ends. 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. In its theme the poem resembles James Patrick Kinneys poem The Cold Within. The speaker believes fire to be the more likely world-ender of the two, and links it directly with what he or she has "tasted" of "desire." From what Ive tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. Every single person that visits Poem Analysis has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. In the first two lines of the poem, Frost creates a . The poem says the world will end with fire and with ice at the same time. Known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American. Some say the world will end in fire, Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. The aim of the poet is aphoristic, where concise statements are packed with general or philosophical truth. Web. First published in 1923 in his book New Hampshire, Fire and Ice is a strong symbolic poem, fire becoming the emotion of desire and ice that of hatred. The poet talks about the two different beliefs regarding the end of this world. Overall, by keeping his meaning understated and simple . Your email address will not be published. From what Ive tasted of desire Imagine having 11 complete poetry units with handouts and lesson plans completed. Ideas have been packed up into the texture of this poem. Fr In the first two lines of the poem, Frost creates a distinct difference between fire and ice and claims that the world will end as a of one of these elements. Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. Fire and Iceis written as a series of nine lines, alternating between three rhyming sounds ABA ABC BCB being the rhyming summary for Fire and Ice. Moreover, there is the use of enjambment, where a sentence continues to the next line of the verse. Have a specific question about this poem? Poet uses right choice and proper arrangement of words and phrases that makes the way easier to reach to intended meaning of the words. But according to the Bible, 'fire' is the symbol of 'Inferno' or hell. This is a poem of opinion, yes, but opinion brought about by personal experience. The poem expresses the idea that the world will end someday, either by Fire or by Ice. "Fire and Ice" is a popular poem by American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963). "Fire and Ice by Robert Frost". Published in December 1920 in Harper's Magazine [1] and in 1923 in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book New Hampshire, "Fire and Ice" is one of Frost . Five years after Frost wrote Fire and Ice, T. S. Eliot would offer his own version of apocalypse in The Hollow Men (1925): This is the way the world ends, he says, famously, Not with a bang but a whimper. Fire and Ice should be seen in the broader literary context of these apocalyptic poems. The metaphor, the end of the . (2019, Dec 06). Required fields are marked *. But if it had to perish twice, 5 It is both warm and light. The following is a study of some of the literary strategies utilized in this poem. The third line, along with the fourth and sixth reveal the first-person speaker, keen to let the reader in on his idea of things. What does the speaker mean when he says that the world may end in either fire or ice? However, ice comes a close second for him: hes also experienced enough of the destructive power of cold, icy hatred to see how that might consume the world, too, and be sufficient to destroy it. It is so, because when he ponders over the burning . The entire poem is an example of meiosis, or understatement. Frost graduated from Lawrence High School, in 1892, as class poet (he also . Many scientists, like Harlow Shapley, hold the belief that the end of the world will come in two forms, "either the earth would be incinerated, or a permanent ice age would . One by fire and another by ice. This is illustrated as in the lines throughout the poem such as Some say the world will end in fire, / some say in ice. (Hansen, 31). Comparing ice and hate to say that the slowness that ice takes ahold of things is the same as hate it takes alot to get someone to actually hate another person. Robert Frost (1874-1963) was an American poet. The ice in line two, stands for the hate in the world. In this context, it is hardly surprising that his work took on a grim look at the world, and that a topic such as the end of the world should rise out of these hard times. In the poem 'Fire and Ice' Robert Frost explains how the world will end by either fire or ice. And to bring the idea into the human domain, the speaker links the elements to human emotion - fire is desire, ice is hate - and the speaker has experienced them both. Steps to Analyzing a Poem. Therhythm and meter of the poemand the use of meiosis offer an alternative to extremismmoderationand provides a solution to the worlds impending doom. The poem was written and published in 1920, and eventually republished in Frosts 1923 volume, For Frost in 1920, life had certainly had its good days and bad days. The theme of punishment could best described as dominant in the poem because the author brings out his points using the two elements to express the imminent punishment waiting people when the world will end. Teaching to the Middle. One is by fire and the other is by ice. In contrast, the presence of more love than hate means that the love has the ability to overpower the hate (Hansen, 29). Initially it was published in Harper's magazine. Meanwhile the symbol of ice is used to show hate and destruction. The poem was written in 1920 and first published in December 1920 in Harpers Magazine and later in 1923 in his Pulitzer Prize-winning volume New Hampshire. /f/ sound is used as an alliteration. Robert Frost's own powerful reading of the poem. He became one of the United States rare public literary figures, almost an artistic institution.. And yet he didnt belong to any particular movement: unlike his contemporaries William Carlos Williams or Wallace Stevens he was not a modernist, preferring more traditional modes and utilising a more direct and less obscure poetic language. Fire and Ice is one of Robert Frost's shortest poems but gives the reader much to ponder on. 2 May 2012. Thats what I did. You dont need to imagine. Fire and ice both represent the two extreme components. A year earlier, W. B. Yeats had written 'The Second Coming', with its famous declaration, ' Things fall . Perhaps a subject of such seriousness needs to be treated with a certain insouciance? He explains us how he thinks the world might end by two things - fire and ice. Since its first publication in December 1920 in Harper's Magazine and in 1923 in Frost's prize-winning collection New Hampshire, Robert Frost's "Fire and Ice" has opened many conversations about the apocalypse.The poem's bleak apocalyptic themes also blend with philosophies about human beings' infallible talent for self-destruction. The poet agrees with those people who believe that the world will be burnt in fire. " Fire and Ice " is a popular poem by Robert Frost that discusses the end of the world, likening the elemental force of fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate. The poem has been widely analyzed and interpreted by critics, with many different perspectives on its meaning and significance. He reflects on his own . Identify the meter and any examples of straying from the meter. Fire and Ice - Critical Commentary "Fire and Ice" is a symbolic (or, metaphorical) poem by the American poet Robert Frost. In a modern sense, fire and ice could well be stand-ins for nuclear disaster and climate change. Frosts use of fire and ice, however, is largely a metaphoric decision that opens the poem up to different kinds of interpretation. Fire of violent desires will put the world to an end. It features a narrator describing the end of the world in their own vision, and its largely simplistic. One such possibility is the world ending in flames of fire. Therefore, the poet personifies fire and ice by giving them a mind which is capable of destroying almost anything. He has seen the result of unending and uncontrolled desires over the life of human beings. Ice and fire are also two extremes that, on a large enough scale, may do enormous devastation, and are appropriate metaphors for harbingers of death. Of course, ice and fire are diametrically opposed, implying that most people have diametrically opposed opinions on the apocalypse after all, the world cannot end in ice and fire at the same moment. Allusion is also used here, by using fire he is alluding about global warming and ice is a reference towards ice age. Analysis: 1. In this poem, a reader will find that the poet has a love for 'fire' and hatred for 'ice'. | Best Courses & High Paying Jobs after Bachelor of Arts, How to become a Cricketer and make it your Career | Step by Step Guide to Join Indian Cricket Team, 26 March 1874, San Francisco, California, United States, 29 January 1963, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, The Road Not Taken, The Gift Outright, Nothing Gold Can Stay, Robert Frost Medal, Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Critical Analysis of "Fire and Ice". Fire and Ice Launch Audio in a New Window. I highly recommend him if you need an assignment done . His apparently simple poems collected in volumes from A Boy's Will to In the Clearing reveal a darker heart upon close reading, and his easy conversational style is propelled by an unfaltering . In addition, this enables him to gain credibility in terms of his opinions and to develop a strong stance. In this poem the author is talking about two really powerful and potentially destructive forces in the world, fire and ice. Here the speaker provides their own opinion they equate fire with desire, which is to suggest that it is equal with passions, with greed, with rage. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. It leads us to the path of destruction. Despite this, it manages to be a powerful and thought-provoking work of art that has remained relevant and remembered decades after its original printing. For example. 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