FIRE AND ICE BY ROBERT FROST

Fire and Ice BY ROBERT FROST

Lines: “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.”

Word-meanings:

Explanation: This is a small poem written by Robert Frost. It is about a question that always occurred in people’s minds from time to time. The question is as to how the world would end.

    Robert Frost writes in this poem that some people say that the world would be consumed by fire. There are also some people who believe that the end of the world would be caused by ice. The poet adds that his experience of life says that the fire of passion dominates the world. People have lost control over their emotions of greed, anger and intolerance. There is always a danger of nuclear war in the world. That will surely destroy all.

Lines: “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.”

Word-meanings: 1. Perish: get destroyed   2. Suffice: convince/ be sufficient

Explanation: The poet says that he is confident that there is enough hate in the world. He has experienced that human beings show a lot of insensitivity, indifference and hatred towards others. If he were to select between the two causes of the world’s destruction, he would favour the second. It would be great and convincing if the world ends up by ice.

Short Summary

    Fire and Ice is about two causes that might prove fatal for human race. Either of these two causes might destroy the whole world. The poet uses symbols of fire and ice as the causes of the world’s destruction. Fire stands for desire and emotions like greed, anger and intolerance. Ice stands for cruelty, intolerance, stubbornness, insensitivity, indifference and hatred. Both the causes would surely lead to the end of the whole world.

Questions & Answers

Q1. What for ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Ans. Fire stands for desire and emotions like greed, anger and intolerance.

Q2. Why do some people say that the world would end in fire?

Ans. Some  people hold the religious view that the world would end .

Q3. Why do some people say that the world would end in ice?

Ans. Some people hold the scientific view that the world would end by ice.

Q4. Describe the two symbols used in the poem Fire and Ice?

Ans. Fire symbolises  desire and emotions like greed, anger and intolerance. Ice symbolises cruelty, intolerance, stubbornness, insensitivity, indifference and hatred.

Q5. What is the main idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice?

Ans. The poet seems to hint at two causes that would lead to the end of the world. The first cause of the world’s end might be desire. It is the very root of so many conflicts in the world. It leads to greed, anger and intolerance. It would further push the world towards destruction. Secondly, the poet might be thinking about the ice age. It would also prove destructive for the world. Human beings are responsible for both the causes of destruction of the world.

Q6. How will the world end by fire?

Ans. Growing materialism is the cause of desire. It further gives birth to passions like greed, anger and intolerance. These passions may become the cause of world war. In that case, the world would be destroyed.

Q7. How will the world end by hatred?

Ans. Hatred breeds intolerance, anger and cruelty. It causes insensitivity in human heart. All of these negative feelings might become the cause of nuclear war in the world. Tha would be the end of the world.

Q8. What does ‘ice’ symbolise?

Ans. Ice symbolises cruelty, intolerance, stubbornness, insensitivity, indifference and hatred.

Q9. What does ‘Fire’ symbolise?

Ans. Fire symbolises  desire and emotions like greed, anger and intolerance.

Dust of Snow by Robert Frost

Dust of Snow by Robert Frost

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart

 A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I had rued.

Word-meanings: Rued: felt sorry

Explanation: The poets  tells us that a crow shook down dust of snow on him from the branches of the hemlock tree has changed his mood. It saved his day from being spoilt due to his bad mood.

Extract 1

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

1.  Where was the crow sitting?

Ans. The crow was sitting on a branch of a hemlock tree.

2.  What did the crow do?

Ans. It shook off the dust of snow on the poet.

3.  What is the dust of snow in the third line?

Ans. Very small particles of snow that settle down on any object are called dust of snow..

4.  What does the dust of snow stand for?

Ans. It stands for the poet’s sadness.

5.  Name the poet and the poem.

Ans. Dust of Snow is the poem and Robert Frost is its poet.

Extract 2

Has given my heart

 A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I had rued.

Questions:

1.  Name the poet and the poem.

Ans. Dust of Snow is the poem and Robert Frost is its poet.

2.  What was the poet’s mood in the beginning?

Ans. The poet’s mood was of sadness in the beginning.

3.  What changed the mood of the poet?

Ans. Sudden fall of dust of snow on him changed his poet.

4.  What does the poet mean when he says that ‘And saved some part/Of a day’?

Ans. The poet’s mood changed from sadness to happiness. It saved the rest of is day.

5.  Write the synonym of the word ‘rued’.

Ans. regretted

                                  Analysis the Poem

Robert Frost presents nature in a different way in this poem. He has used two symbols in this poem. One is of a crow and the other is of a hemlock tree. The crow is the symbol of bad omen. Its colour is black and its voice is rough and unmusical. So it does not make us happy. Another symbol is that of a tree, Hemlock and it is poisonous.

This poem is about a very small incident. It changes the mood of the poem. The poet seems to tell us how small incidents in our life create big impact. We must not ignore them. We must be aware of every small changes and incidents in our life. The poet may be removing superstition about a crow and a hemlock tree from the reader’s mind. Both the objects are linked with death and fear. But these bring happiness in the poet’s mind.

The poet is sitting under a hemlock tree. It is covered with snow. Suddenly a crow sits on the tree. It makes the dust of snow fall down from the tree. The poet at once comes out of his sad mood. He becomes happy.

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