NCERT Solutions Class 10 English Chapter 1 Fire and Ice Poem

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English for Fire and Ice Poem

Thinking about the Poem

2. For Frost, what do ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for? Here are some ideas:

Answer
‘Fire’ stands for greed, avarice, lust, conflict and fury. ‘Ice’ stands for cruelty, intolerance, rigidity, insensitivity, coldness, indifference and hatred.

3. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem?
Answer
The rhyme scheme of the poem is: a, b, a, a; b. c, b, c,b.
The contrasting ideas of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are presented using this rhyme scheme. He mentions that both fire and ice are probable ends of this world. While he talks about how fire represents desire and can therefore be a cause of the end of the world, he also mentions ice in between to symbolise that the coldness and indifference towards one another will also be enough to end the world. In the second stanza, he says that he knows of enough hate in the world to be sure that even destruction through ice would be sufficient to bring about the end of the world.

Fire and Ice Poem Summary Class 10 English

About the Poet: Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. He was born in 1874 in San Francisco, California. Known for his realistic depiction of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech, Frost frequently wrote about setting from rural life in New England in 20th century. In his lifetime, he won more than one Pulitzer Prize. His poetry remains significant in today’s literary world, and his name is also linked to the Robert Frost Library where President John F. Kennedy honoured the poet with a speech. Frost passed away in the year 1963.

Theme: The theme of the poem 'Fire and Ice' is about the destruction of creation. The world will be destroyed some day and the poet is of the view that there will be two reasons for its destruction - fire and ice. Fire symbolises greed, anger, jealousy, and war; and ice symbolises coldness, disregard, indifference, hate and selfishness. The poet impresses upon the reader that it would be the negative and repressive attitudes of human beings, that would be the forces contributing to this misfortune.

Summary: In this poem, the poet expresses the two ways in which the world may end. Some people say that the world will end by fire while others say that it will end by ice. The poet says that he is aware about the 'fiery desires' of human emotions, so he will favour those who say that fire will end the world. Then, the poet rethinks again and imagines, if the world has to die twice, then ice is capable of destroying the whole world too.
'Fire' represents the fiery, aggressive and negative attributes of human beings, such as possessiveness, covetousness, anger, hatred, destructiveness, which result in the creation of warlike situations that usually causes death and destruction.
Equally dangerous is 'ice' which represents apathy, hatred, disregard, lack of concern, indifference, selfishness, which results in a cold war, where again there is death and destruction. Both fire and ice are therefore, equally powerful in their ability to cause destruction. This is because one common factor in both the cases is 'Hatred' among human beings. That is why, the poet subscribes to the fact that both these opposing forces, are equally competent in achieving one common end - destruction of the world.
The poet could be making a subtle reference to the extent of environmental destruction that is being caused by man and his greed. This is causing grave damage to the equilibrium on the earth, leading to global warming. This is de-establishing the established climatic conditions. Cold regions are getting colder, the heat on the surface of the earth is getting unbearable. Life on the earth is getting tougher because of the apathy of man towards the environment. In such a situation, the poet could be implying that excessive heat and cold could be the cause of destruction of the entire universe.

Explanation of the poem:

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.

Explanation: In these lines, the poet analyses the views of the people and states that there can be two possible causes for the end of the world. On one side there are people who believe that the world will end because of fire. Here, fire represents the extreme desire, anger, greed etc present wither of human beings. On the other side, there are people who favour ice. Here, ice represents the human emotions of hatred, intolerance etc. The poet from his experience believes that the world will end with fire. Thus, the poet remains with those people who favour 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.

Explanation In these lines, the poet thinks that if the world had to end twice, ice would also be able to destroy it completely. For the poet Ice (hatred) is as powerful as fire (desire).
In human beings, hatred is long-lasting and it enters into their hearts. It remains through the life. Thus, poet thinks that ice or hatred will be sufficient to bring an end of this world.

Short Answer Type Question

1. Mention the highlights of the poem fire and ice by Robert frost.
Answer
The poem brings distinction between two things that destroy the world. Either it will burn to death in fire or freeze with ice.
It highlights the fact that both fire and ice destroy and destructive in nature.
This form signifies two of the darkest traits of humanity.
a) hatred- to hate as ice (to become cold and indifferent and have frozen feelings.)
b) Desire - to burn in greed, or desire to acquire. Greed, jealousy, lust, passion, or all traits of fire that may burn and affect a person greatly
Coldness and hatred, among people leads to death of humanity.These emotions may affect to such an extent that the person may lose control over himself, becoming in human, leading to destruction, which may lead to the end of the world.The purpose of coldness and warmth is to regulate temperature in order to make life comfortable. However, extreme of both can have disastrous consequences. To continue to sustain life, one needs to regulate his emotions.

2. Explain why the poet personally holds the conviction that the whole world will end in fire?
Answer
Though the poet says that both fire and ice are equally destructive, he personally holds the conviction that the world will end in fire. This is because he has experienced extreme desire, and feels that it is very destructive. Fire, hair, refers to the intense desire to acquire, jealousy, lust, passion, which all burn a person inside. He has experienced how these emotions go out of control and how they cause a person to act in human, leading to destruction of the world.

3. What is the theme of the poem “Fire and Ice?
Answer
The poem has been written by Robert Frost to show how certain human traits can lead to destruction of the world. He brings distinction between two things that destroy – fire and ice which represents desire and heat respectively. They both are destructive in nature, and our strong enough to destroy the world. He personally favours fire as a destructor, because he knows greed, lust, jealousy, very well. However, when he thinks again, he thinks ice or heat rate in sensitivity, cold heartedness is also sufficient in the world.

4. How would the world and twice?
Answer
The poet feels that if the world is not completely destroyed by fire, eyes would also be a second option. He has used this to show that he is thinking about both options, fire and ice. He feels that if burning desire is not enough to end the world, apathy and insensitivity will.

5. What would be enough to destroy the world?
Answer
The poet, Robert frost, things negative human traits are enough to destroy the world. He thinks either the world will freeze to death organ. Initially, he thinks, greed, jealousy, lost, passion, and desire, represented by fire, will be enough to end the world, as they turn people inhumane to the point that can’t differentiate what is the correct path is and what is wrong. However, if fire is not enough, hate, apathy, insensitivity, represented by ice will surely in the world. All humanity in people will be reduced to zero , which will ultimately destroy the world.

6. according to the poem, the world will end. Is there any way to save it? With reference to the poem, how can the world be saved?
Answer
This is with reference to the poem “fire and ice” by Robert frost. It is about how various human traits are enough to end the world.
The poet initially refers to fire as a destroyer. Fire, here, has been used to refer to the burning desire to ‘get’, jealousy, greed, passion and lust. Ice, on the other hand, has been used to signify hate, something which makes a person and apath, inconsiderate of the other person. Both these emotions, if left unchecked, can cause a person to act, irrationally and inhuman. It can cause him to lose all the sense of humanity and become selfish. Thus, to allow the Earth to survive further, we need to keep such emotions in check. If people desire things to only a certain extent And are not in consideration of other people, humanity will survive.

7. What are the poetic device used.
Answer
a) rhyme scheme –ABAA BCBCB
b) alliteration – some say, world well, favour fire, I think I
c) Anaphora – some say.
d) Enjambment – enough of hate to say……, ice is also great and….., tasted of desire I hold with…...
e) Imagery- world will end in fire…… in ice,
f) Personification -fire and ice -destruction - human traits
g) Repetition – fire, eyes
h) Symbolism – fire, (greed, anger, desire) Ice ( hate, apathy ,inconsideration)
i) Assonance- hold with those who favour fire