FIRE AND ICE/CLASS-10/CENTRAL IDEA/ POETIC DEVICES/EXPLANATIONS/EXTRA IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

 CENTRAL IDEA

The central Idea around which the entire poem revolve is that  love ,compassion, equality considerateness and sympathy alone can help mankind in establishing piece on the earth. Fire and ice are symbolically used. Fire symbolises Desire and it can bring an end to this world. Ice symbolises coldness hate and Indifference in human relationship and can be the cause of the the end of the the world. Too much Desire and too much coldness bring an end of the world.

POETIC DEVICES USED 

Symbolism 'Fire' is used as symbol of desire. 

                        'Ice' stands as indifference 

Paradox.    ( It is a true statement which seems untrue). It is in "But if it had to perish twice". It is in 'perish twice'.

Alliteration  The sound of /s/, w/and/f/in

Imagery (Imagery is a figure of speech where a thing gives out another meaning than its literal meaning).

-'Fire's and 'ice' stand for desire, passion and hatred , coldness in human relations. 'Fire' also connotes the feeling of heat and burning pain, etc. 

Rhyme scheme abaabcbcbcb

STANZAS FOR COMPREHENSION 

1. Some says  the world will end in fire 

Some say in ice. 

What I've tasted of desire

 I hold with those who favour fire.

Word meaning . Hold-Agree, Favour- Think it right 

Explanation. The poet wonders whether the world will end in fire or in ice . Both the things stand in contrast and opposite to each other. These are symbols of passion and Desire and coldness hate and Indifference in human relationships.

There are people who stay that fire heat and passion will end the world. There are also people who say that ice will end the world. The poet tells that he personally is of the opinion that other things like greed,  jealousy ,hatred Indifference ,etc will also consume the world.

2. 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 meaning . Perish- destroy,  Destruction- ruin,  suffice- be sufficient 

Explanation - The poet admit that fire and ice  bring an end to the world. But hatred is not less an evil  that will bring an end to the world .The power of hatred is symbolised in ice . It is as powerful as desire. Desire consumes quickly so the hatred. Hatred is long-lasting and get entrance into the People's hearts. It is Unlike the fire that comes to an end physically speaking. It last throughout the life. It can be a potent weapon to blast the entire world. Does 'fire's, 'ice',' hatred', etc are symbolically more powerful weapons then the nuclear weapons . This message underlines the essence of the poem. 

EXTRA IMPORTANT QUESTIONS 

1. How do the people think of the world?

Ans- the people think that the world will end in fire on in ice. 

2. What is the poet opinion about the world and about ' fire'?

Ans- the poet things that the world will end in fire. 'Fire' means 'great desire' or 'anger' or other evil  qualities.

3. What does the fire signify ?

Ans- the fire signifies anger.

4. Find a word from the first stanza which mean 'wish'.

Ans-Desire

5. In the second stanza what does' it' mean hair in the first line?

Ans - 'It' refers to the world. 

6. What does 'ice' symbolise in this poem?

Ans-'Ice' symbolises 'hatred '.

7. What is the basic idea given here?

Ans- The basic idea is that people must love one another.

8. Find a word from the 2nd stanza that means 'ruin'.

Ans-Destruction.

9. Who is the poet of this poem 'Fire and ice'?

Ans- Robert Frost.