"Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost

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 know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.


Vocabulary:

• Suffice- to be enough or adequate, as for needs, purposes, etc.

Analysis: 

• The poem's speaker talks about the world and the possible causes of the world's end; fire and ice. It questions whether the world will be destroyed in flames or frozen in ice.However the speaker also has a different meaning he relates the 2 elements, fire and ice, to emotions. Fire being passion and desire while ice is hatred. Relating the elements to emotions shows the reader the world in the context of the poem also means human connection and relationships. Like the world can perish in fire or ice a relationship can be burned out through passion or through hate. The speaker talks of his own life saying he has experienced both sides of the matter and decided that though the elements are very different they can each be equally as damaging.

Theme:

• The theme is a warning to man that while desire and hate are common emotions and can drive us to do many things in life they can also be dangerous. Too much desire or too much hate can bring an end to something good like relationships and connections between people.

Personal Connection:

• I liked the poem because it asked the question how will the world end but it also related the worlds end to humanity and how just like fire and ice humans have a big impact on the out come of things in the long run.