ABOUT THE POET
·
Robert
Frost is one of the most eminent and finest American poets.· Birthday: March 26, 1874, San Francisco,
California· Nationality:· Died ON- January 29, 1963 at the age: 88· Place of Death: Boston, Massachusetts, United
States· Epitaphs: I Had A Lover’s Quarrel with The
World
Major Works
1. A Boy’s Will (1913 U.K. edition,
1915 U.S. edition)2. North of Boston (1914 U.K.
edition, 1915 U.S. edition)3. Mountain Interval (1916)4. New Hampshire (1923)5. West-running Brook (1928)6. The Lovely Shall Be
Choosers (1929)7.
Collected Poems (1930)
AWARDS
1. Pulitzer Prize, New
Hampshire (1924)2.
Pulitzer Prize, Collected
Poems (1931)3.
Pulitzer Prize, A Further
Range (1937)4.
Pulitzer Prize, A Witness
Tree (1943)5.
Congressional Gold Medal (1960)6.
Poet Laureate of Vermont (1961)7.
Edward MacDowell Medal (1962)
ABOUT THE POEM
“Fire and Ice” is one of Robert Frost’s
most popular poems. It was published in December 1920 in Harper’s Magazine and
in 1923 in his Pulitzer Prize−winning book New
Hampshire. It discusses the end of the world, likening the elemental force of
fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate.
most popular poems. It was published in December 1920 in Harper’s Magazine and
in 1923 in his Pulitzer Prize−winning book New
Hampshire. It discusses the end of the world, likening the elemental force of
fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate.
Hatred and desire are the two very important components
of the poem which are rather self-destructive. It is our emotions and desires,
if not controlled and assuaged will ultimately lead to destruction
unimaginable. It is one of Frost’s best-known and most anthologized poems.
of the poem which are rather self-destructive. It is our emotions and desires,
if not controlled and assuaged will ultimately lead to destruction
unimaginable. It is one of Frost’s best-known and most anthologized poems.
BACKGROUND OF THE POEM
Robert Frost wrote the poem Fire and
Ice in 1920 in an interesting way of rhyme scheme.
Ice in 1920 in an interesting way of rhyme scheme.
As we check on the background of
the poem we find that there are two sources from where Robert Frost might have
been inspired from.
the poem we find that there are two sources from where Robert Frost might have
been inspired from.
Firstly,
The concept of the ways of the
destruction of the world might be from the by Dante’s Inferno, Canto 32 which
was written in the 14th century by the title of “DIVINE COMEDY”.
destruction of the world might be from the by Dante’s Inferno, Canto 32 which
was written in the 14th century by the title of “DIVINE COMEDY”.
Secondly,
Another source states that following
a conversation with astronomer Harlow Shapley about the end of the world Robert
Frost, might have been inspired about writing the poem after he had conversed
with him. According to the astronomer on questioned by Robert Frost, he said
that said that either the sun will explode or the earth will slowly freeze.
Take your pick.
a conversation with astronomer Harlow Shapley about the end of the world Robert
Frost, might have been inspired about writing the poem after he had conversed
with him. According to the astronomer on questioned by Robert Frost, he said
that said that either the sun will explode or the earth will slowly freeze.
Take your pick.
STRUCTURE OF THE POEM
Robert Frost, in this poem, has
used a very interesting rhyme scheme. He has used here a modified version of
the rhyming scheme is known as terza rima where the second line
of the first tercet rhymes fully with the first and third lines of the next.
This was invented by none other than Dante in his Divine Comedy.
used a very interesting rhyme scheme. He has used here a modified version of
the rhyming scheme is known as terza rima where the second line
of the first tercet rhymes fully with the first and third lines of the next.
This was invented by none other than Dante in his Divine Comedy.
Rhyme
Fire and Ice is a nine-line single
stanza poem which rhymes with the metrical pattern of iambic tetrameter and di-meter.
stanza poem which rhymes with the metrical pattern of iambic tetrameter and di-meter.
The rhyme scheme is: aba
abc bcb .
abc bcb .
The poem Fire and Ice is
constructed with Alliteration, allusion, enjambment, Symbolism etc. Find
detailed one in the line by line analysis,
constructed with Alliteration, allusion, enjambment, Symbolism etc. Find
detailed one in the line by line analysis,
SUMMARY
In his poem “Fire and Ice” Robert Frost with the
power of symbolism has catered us two elements of destructions by nature i.e.
fire and ice
power of symbolism has catered us two elements of destructions by nature i.e.
fire and ice
According to him, there are two beliefs in the world
by which this world will come to
by which this world will come to
complete annihilation.
Some believe that that fire would be the reason for the destruction of the world. Here fire is actually attributed to emotions and the desire of the people if the earth which would be the reason for the self-destruction
of world.
Whereas the other group is of the opinion that the world will come to an end because of the ice which is symbolic of hatred.
According to the poet, it has such power of devastation that it would one day
with its power of hemlock bring an end to the world.
According to the poet, it has such power of devastation that it would one day
with its power of hemlock bring an end to the world.
Poet gave some reasons and said both elements are capable to
destroy the world by comparing it with human life. ‘Fire’ symbolizes human desires are
just like the flames of fire which never end. Human desires are the main
driving force which can compel a person to go to any extent to the fulfilment
of those desires. Further, he said, ‘Ice’ is also equally capable to
destroy the world. He associated it with cold-blooded hatred which modern man
has for fellow human beings.
destroy the world by comparing it with human life. ‘Fire’ symbolizes human desires are
just like the flames of fire which never end. Human desires are the main
driving force which can compel a person to go to any extent to the fulfilment
of those desires. Further, he said, ‘Ice’ is also equally capable to
destroy the world. He associated it with cold-blooded hatred which modern man
has for fellow human beings.