Fire and Ice

Summary

Fire and Ice’ is a symbolic poem by Robert Frost. The poet wants to aware the humanity that
everything will end one day as a result of human misdeeds. The poet says that both fire and
ice are destructive of violent desires will put the world to an end. If the world had to perish
twice then it will be perished by the hatred between man and man. Ice has been presented
as a symbol of hatred.

Comprehension Questions

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

1. What are the two popular views in the society regarding the destruction of the world?
The poem deals the age-old belief about how the world will come to an end. Some
believe that the world will end in fire but to others, it will end in ice. It is shown in the
poem that each of them has potential energy to bring about the destruction of the
world.

2. What do ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for?
In the present poem ‘fire’ is associated with greed, cruelty, and lust whereas ‘ice’ is
associated with rigidity, hatred, coldness, and indifference.

3. “But if it had to perish twice’’
Why does the poet use ‘if’ in the above quotation?
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. That’s why the poet expresses his suspicion by using the term ’if’.

4. What is the poet’s personal view regarding the end of the world?
The poet in the present poem represents the dominant views regarding the probable
causes of the destruction of the world. It may end either in fire or in ice. In other words,
both of them have the power to ruin the world. The poet states that he holds with those
who favour fire.

5. How does the poet keep himself at a distance from the controversies of the poem?
The poet takes a unique mechanism to keep himself separate from the conversation of
the poem. Here he only gives an account of the belief of common men. Some people
think that the world will end in fire while the others believe that it will end in ice. The
repetition of the word ‘some’ in the poem tells us about the aloofness of the poet from
all controversies.

6. “I think I know enough of hate”. What does the speaker know about hate?
The speaker in the above line says that he knows enough of hate but we are not told he
has first-hand knowledge about hate or he experiences it at a distance. But the poet’s
intuitive power reminds him it is dangerous. It can also play a trick upon anybody as it a
silent killer.

7. Do you think that either of fire and ice has the power the power to ruin the world?
Fire and ice has the power to destroy the world. We believe that the world will come to
an end someday but nobody knows when and how.
Our desires and hatred would be enough to destroy the world. According to the poet,

8.What is the underlying idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
The poet equates fire with ‘desire’ and ice with ‘hatred
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.

9. How will the world end twice?
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. If it
survives, it will be ruined by hatred.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING IN 100-200 WORDS.

to the world. We can associate fire with lust, greed, avarice and intolerance whereas ice can be associated with hatred and indifference. The fire of lust and greed gets publicity but the coldness of hatred is also dangerous as it is a silent killer. The black sides of human nature can obstruct the progress of human civilization.

Questions from the text book.