A.
Text of Poem Fire and Ice by Robert Frost
Some say the world will
end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted
of desire
I hold with those who
favor fire.
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.
B.
Explanation
Here,
Robert Frost had written a poem about comparison between Fire and Ice. Frankly,
Fire and Ice are metaphor. I can see two things in this poem. First is physical
and second is emotional. If I connect between Fire and Physical so Fire refers
to falling meteor, fire attack, mountain
explosion, bomb, and many things that it includes fire. Whereas Ice refers to
gletzer, flood, storm, tsunami, ice storm, and extreme cold climate. How about emotional? Fire refers to jealousy,
anger or rage, envy, revenge, hatred and so on.Whereas ice refers to extreme
sadness, loneliness, despair, pain
heart, restlessness, fear, disappointment, egoism, indifference, hopelessness,
and pessimism. But Robert Frost wants explaining that the world will end by
destructive emotions of human. Frankly, the world refers to human soul. Because
he had obtained some words that refers to human soul. Those words are desire in
line 3 and hate in line 6. This poem also uses mind, for example think and
know. Moreover Robert Frost created this poem with free verse. “Fire and Ice”
was first published in Harpir’s Magazine in
1920 and it was republished in 1923 in Frost’s collection New Hampshire.
C.
Poet (Robert Frost)
Robert
Frost is modern American poet. His full name is Robert Lee Forst. He was born
in San Fransisco, California, US on March 26, 1874. He died in Boston,
Massachusetts, US on January 29, 1963 (aged 88), and his occupation was poet
and playwright. He won the Pulitzer Prize four times and was asked to deliver a
poem at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961.
D.
Figurative Language
1. Paradox : Fire and Ice
After the speaker
states that the world or human soul will end by fire. He also states in line 5
“But if it had to perish twice”. Human is impossible to live twice. But it is
just once. The speakers wants explaining that human soul can end with ice as
well. It is not only fire. So, Robert Frost had obtained the tittle for this
poem, that is Fire and Ice, not Fire or Ice.
2. Alliteration
In line 1 and 2 there
is alliteration, “Some say the world will end in fire”, “Some say
in ice”, “Some say” is called alliteration. Because both words are started with
same letter, that is “s”. In line 4 there is alliteration, “I hold with those
who favor fire, “Favor fire”
is an example of alliteration. Due tue both words are started with same letter,
that is “f”.
3. Metaphor : Line 4 to 5 and line 6 to
8
Fire is metaphor for
desire and ice metaphor for hate.
4. Symbolism
In line 8, there is an
example of symbolism, “Is also great”, “Great” means powerful. It does
not mean fantastic. Due to the speaker explains regarding destruction, not
amazement in nature or scenary.
5. Irony
There
is irony in line 9, “And would suffice”, “Suffice” is an example of
irony.
E.
Style and Structure
The poem was written in
a single 9-line stanza. There is three
sentences. First sentence is line 1 to 2. Second is line 3 to 4. The last
sentence is line 5 to 9.
Rhyme scheme is a b a a b c b c b.
Some say the world will
end in fire,-a
Some say in ice.-b
From what I’ve tasted
of desire-a
I hold with those who
favor fire.-a
But if it had to perish
twice,-b
I think I know enough
of hate-c
To say that for
destruction ice-b
Is also great-c
And would suffice.-b
F.
Summary
This poem tells opinion
about the world condition that it can shatter by fire and ice. I know the fire
will make destruction rapidly but ice is also dangerous because it will make
destruction slowly.Virtually, It is not really natural disasters like falling
meteor, mountain explosion, gletzer, etc. Due to the world refers to our soul. Robert
Lee Frost wants telling that the world will end by destructive emotions of
human like revenge, despair, and so on. Moreover, the speaker puts his opinion
into this poem like in line 3 “From what I’ve tasted of desire”, line 4 “I hold
with those who favor fire”, line 6 “I think
I know enough of hate”. It proves that this poem was created in debate
situation about world will end with fire and ice. Here, there are two opinions.
Some scientist said that the world will end by fire but another scientist said
that the world will end by ice. So, this poem is like expression of Robert Frost
and he explains that human soul can shatter as well. It is caused by anger,
egoism, so on. The speaker is Robert Frost.
G.
Theme
Theme
of this poem is destructive emotions of human.
H.
Tone
The
tone of this poem is argumentative.
I.
The Effect
Robert
Frost have been successful to make me as the reader understand about the core
of his poem. Moreover, I can imagine in my own thoughts regarding destructive
emotions of human and it is extremey dangerous. Due to it will affect human
soul.
J.
Personal Reflections
I
choose this poem because the tittle is terribly interesting. Due to the tittle
is like comparison.When I read, the poem turned out incredible. Because it
explains regarding destructive emotions of human. I guess that the poem tells
about how the world will end. But it implies that the world in his poem is
human soul and it will end by envy, fear, and so on.
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