The content of the poem seems ill suited for the quicker paced, faster flowing tetrameter. Some say the world will end in fire, Poem begins with some say which means that a group of people is of the opinion that the world will come to an end either by fire or by ice. So note the spondees that open the first two lines giving a spurt of energy with double stress to the alliteration. Note that the long lines can be read a little quicker than the short ones, which means a different tempo for the reader in lines 2, 8, and 9. The poet gives his personal opinion. The poem Fire and Ice is a poem written by Robert Frost, and published in 1923. 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. Stanza form. Fire and Ice is one of Robert Frost's shortest poems but gives the reader much to ponder on. Throughout history, there has always been a seeming fascination with how the world will end. Fire and Ice by Robert Frost Analysis In this poem the author is talking about two really powerful and potentially destructive forces in the world, fire and ice. In other words, will humans destroy the world through hating each other so much that we all kill each other? 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. People grow insensitive and cruel because of hatred. On a large scale, however, fire consumes and destroys, and so too does desire. Want to learn how to analyse texts so you become a better writer? From what I have discovered over summer I hold with those who say it is great But if I had to move again I think I know enough of loss To say that for moving away The loss is also great Poem The sample paper on Critical Analysis Of Fire And Ice familiarizes the reader with the topic-related facts, theories, and approaches. Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. we talk of burning with desire for someone). 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. Heres a copy of the poem to save you the trouble of doing a Google search. Perhaps a subject of such seriousness needs to be treated with a certain insouciance? Scroll down to read the entire paper. Most critics agree that The Gift Outright is a superior poem to the inauguration poem Frost had written, and The Gift Outright is now more or less synonymous with Kennedys inauguration. His work was initially published in England before it was published in the United States. In every line grammar is used according to the need of the sentence. Fire is being used as a metaphor for strong, consuming emotions such as desire. I will never give away, trade or sell your email address. The poem consists of two stresses or iambic diameter. The poet thinks if the world has to perish once more, ice would be the destroyer then. And especially on poets minds. I think I know enough of hate The speaker expresses their own viewpoint here, equating fire with desire, implying that it is synonymous with emotions, greed, and fury. 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. Question and Answer forum for K12 Students. The speaker recalls their experiences with a strong desire and tends to believe that it is those kinds of emotions and impulses that lead the world down its irrevocable path. From what I've tasted of desire. Poem Analysis, https://poemanalysis.com/robert-frost/fire-and-ice/. Frost wrote 'Fire and Ice' in 1920. Moving Away By: Elaina Marks Some say moving can be great, Some say it causes hate. No worries. As a close opposite to the burning desires the speaker sees as being so dangerous, the ice is also a concern in their mind. In the poem 'Fire and Ice' Robert Frost explains how the world will end by either fire or ice. Overall, by keeping his meaning understated and simple . Its difficult to say what Eliot thought of Frost, and how familiar he was with his work, although it is certainly curious that, in the midst of the next war, in Little Gidding (1942), Eliot gives us the line This is the death of water and fire.. He became one of the United States rare public literary figures, almost an artistic institution.. 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. This Fire and Ice poem analysis takes you step by step through the analysis process, allowing you to teach your own literary analysis whenever the fancy strikes, which is usually about 5 minutes after your administrator says he wants to observe your students applying higher level thinking skills. Hansen, Tom. Read it several times. Just print, make copies, and accept accolades from colleagues and students. STRUCTURALIST ANALYSIS OF THE POEM FIRE AND ICE, Phonological / Syntactic Analysis of the Poem, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Summary and Analysis of The Road Not Taken, Summary and Analysis of After Apple Picking, Benefits of Solving Previous Years Question Papers, 3 Tools That Help You Write a Compelling Research Paper. Fire and Ice are composed of nine lines that alternate between three, These first few words represent the general publics dispute over how the world would end. In addition, it seems that his knowledge as to the means that the world will end is influenced largely by other peoples opinions, which he seems to value a lot. In "Fire and Ice", Frost's first two lines are "Some say the world will end in fire,/ some say in ice." This excerpt also has a greater meaning. it is a poem based on mere speculation as there neither is nor guarantee that the world will end by either fire or ice. In the first two lines of the poem, Frost creates a . It means that the poem is not concluded entirely. He supports those who sees the possibility of the end of the world in fire, as fire stands for passion and desire. "Some say the world will end in fire,". Frost asked him how the world will end. 1. The speaker is concerned about the ice, which is the polar opposite of the speakers burning aspirations. It was reportedly inspired greatly by Dantes Inferno, particularly in the descriptions of Hell (interestingly described as having nine layers or rings in the story and Fire and Ice being a poem of nine lines). In its theme the poem resembles James Patrick Kinneys poem The Cold Within. Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth summary a. It will lead to conflicts and ultimately result in the destruction of the world. As fire can spread very fast and cause 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. It contains nine lines corresponding to Dante's nine-leveled configuration of hell, and its rhyme scheme mimics the terza rima pattern Dante invented for his Divine Comedy as well. The presence of fire and ice is sufficient because both elements are powerful in their own respect. 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. Then follow these. Ice: hate. Known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American. What matters is what is done about the heat or cold (ironically, the other one, though the desire-hatred metaphor doesnt work so well as a way to balance out the other). The words like fire, desire, perish, destruction, ice, hate and great makes a horrible and pessimistic image in mind. This is clearly indicated in the words highlighted in bold, whereby the rhyme changes in each sentence. The poem Fire and Ice. The potential for ice would suffice, and even though they tend to believe in the destructive power of desire, they see no reason to believe that hate couldnt end the world just as easily. According to the poet, our desire or hatred will be the reason for the end of the world. The poem Fire and Ice is composed by Robert Frost. Frost says that he has seen both Fire and Ice, which is connected with two emotions, desire, and hatred. Answer: Fire and Ice are symbolized here. Here, the poet has compared Fire and Ice with the self-destructing emotions of human beings. The poem was written in 1920 and first published in December 1920 in Harper's Magazine and later in 1923 in his Pulitzer Prize-winning volume "New Hampshire".. In other words, the world will either burn up or freeze up. It is a fitting analogy in a candle or a fireplace, fire shows a person the way. The Poetry Handbook, John Lennard, OUP, 2005. The poem has been written symbolically. We hope this article on Fire and Ice (Poem) has been interesting. 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. Casual in tone, with clichs, it introduces to the reader the profound idea that the world could end in one of two ways, with fire or ice, through desire or hate. 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. For Frost in 1920, life had certainly had its good days and bad days. Summary of the Poem Fire and Ice - Robert Frost's poem " Fire and Ice " is a strong symbolic poem where the fire is used as the emotion of desire and ice, that of hatred. He automatically means that hate is cold and chilling because he has witnessed the chilling effects of the vice when he states I think I know enough of hate / to say that for destruction ice / is also great / and would suffice (Serio, 39). 4.9. An analysis ofFire and Icebegins with reading the poem. Robert Frosts Fire and Ice is about destruction, the central theme of the poem. It's short. Fire and Ice are two elements in the world that are important but entirely different from each other in their own unique aspects. Explore "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost. 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. But if I had to parish twice, I think I know enough of hate. The language of the poem is following specific perspective pattern. In contrast, the presence of more love than hate means that the love has the ability to overpower the hate (Hansen, 29). Robert Frost's Fire and Ice comprises of 1 stanza with 9 lines. Simple language that portrays significant meaning of hatred and desire is evident in the poem. It features a narrator describing the end of the world in their own vision, and its largely simplistic. Therhythm and meter of the poemand the use of meiosis offer an alternative to extremismmoderationand provides a solution to the worlds impending doom. The tone of the speaker is undercut with humor, wra . In the first line, fire represents the desires of the world. In this poem, Fire and Ice are capable of destruction. Hatred and want are not destructive forces in the same way that the elemental elements are. The fire is hot, and the ice is chilling cold, the two might be used to represent various aspects in society such as the presence of love and hate. Robert Frost, in his own inimitable way, chose both, the poem expressing this dualism in a typical rhythmic fashion, using a modified version of the rhyming scheme known as terza rima where the second line of the first tercet rhymes fully with the first and third lines of the next. However, on a big scale, the fire eats and destroys, as does desire. The entire poem is an example of meiosis, or understatement. The word fire stands for desire. Ice can make the body numb with its prolonged contact. Why might the speaker think that hate and ice have something in common? 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. His rhyming scheme could be best described as terza rima (Hansen, 33). This gives the poem a rising feel as each word at line end is stressed. Enjambment: It is defined as a thought or clause that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it moves over the next line. 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