Fire and Ice Summary

The poet is very much sure of the destruction of humanity on someday. He is talking about the
two different beliefs regarding the end of this world. These are on the basis of the sayings of the
people. The poet says that he is in favour of those people who say this world will end in fire. This
is because he has seen the effect and result of uncontrolled and unending desires over the life of
human beings. He finds that human evil desires are similar to the fire in its nature. So this fire may
become a big reason to destroy humankind and this world too.

On the other hand, the second belief in this regard says that ice is also sufficient for destroying
this world. Here the poet compares the nature of ice with hatred feelings of humans with the other
humans. As ice can make the body numb with its prolonged contact, similarly hatred can also give
the numbness to our mind and thoughts. And hence it can make us insensitive and cruel. Such
cruelty towards humanity will be more responsible for the destruction of the world compared to
the desire.

The speaker brings us all into the middle of the argument between two different categories of the
people. One who thinks that the world will come to a fiery end and other people who think the
world will freeze resulting to the end. Poet is possibly talking about the literal end of the world.
But he is also talking about the power that human beings have to destroy each other.

The poet experiences the romantic desire that he has taught the passion for emotions like love and
lust. These will probably have the power to turn the earth into a big fireball. But he has also
experienced the other extreme side. This is about colder emotions like hate which have great
destructive power. It is a common fact that love gets all the publicity, whereas hate is the silent
killer. It may not have the same effect as the fireball ending, but it will do the trick.

Fire and Ice Extra Questions and Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What is ‘fire’ a symbol of?

Answer: ‘Fire is a symbol of lust and endless desires.

2.What is ‘Ice’ a symbol of?

Answer: ‘ice is a symbol of hatred.

3. What will fire do to the world?

Answer: Fire will put the world to an end.
4. What will the world end in?
Answer: The world will end in the fire as well as ice.

5. Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?
Answer: The poet holds with those who favour fire because the lust for material things is
increasing quickly.

6. Why do some people say that the world will end in ice?
Answer: They say so because hatred among people is increasing fast.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you think would be enough to destroy the world? Can Fire and Ice contribute to
it?

Answer: Our desires and hatred would be enough to destroy the world. According to the
poet, `fire’ represents ‘desire’ and `ice’ represents `hatred’. Desires like fire spread rapidly
and engulf one’s whole life. Similarly, ‘hatred’ fills life with poison.

2. What is the underlying idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The poet equates fire with `desire’ and ice with ‘hatred’. Both of these are growing
with enormous speed. If we don’t check them from growing, the world will perish. So we
must restrain our desires and love our fellow-beings.

3. Which two ideas about how the world will end have been mentioned in the poem? Which
idea does the poet support more?

Answer: The two ideas mentioned are that the world will end in fire or in ice. Though the
poet thinks both are great for destruction, yet he seems to favour the idea of the destruction
of the world in a fire a little more than in ice.

4. What does ‘fire’ and ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the world?
Or
According to the poet, what does ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ represent? Do you agree with him?
Answer: According to the poet, ‘fire’ represents desire and ‘ice’ represents hatred. I do
agree with the poet. Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf one’s whole life. Similarly
‘hatred’ fills the whole life with poison. It makes one hard-hearted and cruel.

5. What do people think about the ending of the world? What does the poet think?

Answer: Some people think that someday the world will end in fire. On the other hand.
some people say. that it will end in ice. The poet has tasted both the fire and the ice. He
thinks that the world will end in fire. Here fire stands for the tire of desire.

6. How will the world end twice?

Answer: The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. Here fire stands for the heat of
desire and ice stands for hatred He thinks that our violent desires will end the world. If it
survives, it will be ruined by hatred.

7. Will this world come to an end? What does the poet say in this regard?

Answer: Everything that has a beginning or origin, does have an end. It is an eternal law of
nature. The existing world will come to an end, someday. The poet believed many people
believe that either ‘fire’ or ‘ice’ will be the cause of the end of the world.

8. What do people think about the end of the world? Who does the poet side with and why?

Answer: People are divided over the cause of the end of this world. Some people think that
‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled passions, desires and fury will destroy this world. Others
believe that ‘ice’ symbolised by cold reasoning, indifference and hatred will be the cause of
destruction. The poet sides with those who believe that ‘fire’ or unbridled passions and
desires will result in the destruction of the world.

9. Why does the poet say, ‘I’ve tasted of desire/I hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet is familiar with the fire of passions and desires in love. He knows it quite
well that are uncontrolled desires, passions and fury lead to our destruction. Similarly, he
sides with those people who believe that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled passions and desires
with be the real cause of the end of the world.

10. How will ‘ice’ be as ‘great’ and ‘suffice’ for causing the end of this existing world? Do
you agree with the poet?

Answer: There is no need for ‘fire’ to destroy the world. Even ‘ice’ is sufficient and ‘strong’
enough to cause the destruction of this world. If this world has to ‘perish twice’, then there is
no need for fire to destroy it twice. ‘Ice’ is as ‘strong’ and ‘great’ a cause that can cause the
end of this world.

11. What is the message of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The metaphors of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are used very effectively to convey a definite
message to the readers. ‘Fire’ here stands for our unbridled, uncontrolled and unchecked
passions, desires, lust and fury. Such passions are disastrous for human beings. Similarly
cold reasoning devoid of all human warmth, love, sympathy will bring insensitivity, cruelty
and rigidity. This hatred will lead to the end of this world.
12. From when I have tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet sides with those who believe that the world will be destroyed by fire.
‘Fire’ is a symbol of desire. The poet has already experienced desire. On the basis of his
experience, he knows that excessive desire will destroy the world. That is why he holds with
those who favour fire.

13. But if it has to perish twice

I think I know enough of hate.
What does ‘it’ refer to? How will it perish twice?

Answer: ‘It’ here refers to the world. The poet says that people hold different opinions about
the end of the world. Some say ‘fire’, which stands for ‘desire’, will destroy the world.
Secondly, ‘ice’, which stands for ‘hatred’ can also destroy the world.

14. To say that for destruction, ice

Is also great
In the poem what does ‘ice’ stand for? How is it sufficient to bring destruction?

Answer: ‘Ice’ stands for ‘hatred’. Hatred may be religious, communal or of any other type.
According to the poet, there is enough hatred in the world which will destroy the external,
physical world one day.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. How does the poem depicts the two contrasting ideas— ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’? Can
hatred destroy us and the world? Explain bringing out values which can make
this world a better place to live in.

Answer: (i) In this poem, Robert Frost refers to two contrasting ideas—Fire
and Ice as predictions of how the world will end. According to him, some
people say that the world will end in a fire while some others hold that this will
end in ice. The poet equates desire with fire and hatred with ice. Both the
desire and hatred are growing with such a rapid speed that the world will come
to an end either of the ways.
(ii) Yes, hatred can destroy us and the world. Intolerance in behaviour creates
hatred that leads to fury and cruelty. One becomes hard-hearted and
insensitive to the feelings of others.
(iii) Love, brotherhood, tolerance, peace, contentment, sensitivity, benevolence,
generosity among people can make this world a better place to live in.

2. 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 in the first stanza is a, b; a band in the
second stanza it is – a, b, a, b, a.
The lines ending with the same rhythm have the same idea but the line that
ends with a different note has the contrasting idea. In the first stanza, the first,
third and fourth lines end with the words fire, desire, fire – same rhythm but
the second line ends with the word ‘ice’, a different note, also it contrasts with
‘fire’.
Thus the poet has brought out the contrasting ideas in the poem by using
different rhythms.

3. There are many ideas about how this world will come to an ‘end’. What are
they? Do you agree with the poet and his understanding of the poet and his
understanding of the issue in this regard?

Answer: Almost all think that this world will end at one time or the other. It is
true that everything that has a beginning or origin will come to an end too.
There are many ideas about how this world will come to an end. Some think
that ‘fire’ will be the cause of the ‘end’ of the world. Others believe that ‘ice’
will bring the end of the world. Both of these ideas have their valid reasons.
The poet sides and stands with those who believe that ‘fire’ will be the cause of
the ‘end’.

The poet is well aware of how the ‘fire’ of unbridled passions, desires, lust, and
fury can lead to the destruction of humanity and the world. But the other view
is equally convincing. Cold and ‘icy’ reasoning can create insensitivity, rigidity,
frigidity, and indifference in man. Ultimately, it breeds ‘hatred’ and contempt.
This kind of ‘icy’ reasoning which is devoid of all human warmth, sympathy,
love, and understanding will only bring destruction and death of this world.
I believe that both ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ have strong potentialities to bring disasters
and destruction to the world.

4. What do the metaphors of ‘ice’ and ‘fire’ convey to the readers? Don’t they
represent the two extremes of human behaviour that can lead to the
destruction and death of this world? What is the message that the poet wants to
give to the readers?

Answer: The poet has touched the universal issue of the ending of this existing
world. He gives a message as well as a warning to human beings. Man is
swaying between two extremes — ‘fire’ and ‘ice’. Sometimes he is torn by his
unbridled fire of passions, desires, lusts, longings, and fury. This results in
greed, avarice and passionate love. All such extremes can lead to unavoidable
conflicts and disasters. If not controlled, they can help in bringing an early end
of this world.

The other extreme behaviour of human beings is born out of cold and ‘icy’
reasoning. When our cold reasoning becomes completely devoid of human
warmth, feelings, love, and sympathy, it breeds hatred. Hatred born out of cold
indifference, insensitivity and rigidity are strong enough to cause the end of
this world. Humanity can redeem itself and possibly save or delay the end of
the world by giving up such extremes of thinking and behaviour.

Long Answer (Value Based) Type Questions

Question 1.
Discuss how extreme behaviour can hasten the end of the world with respect to
‘Fire and Ice’.
Answer:
‘Fire’ symbolises desire and ‘Ice’ symbolises hatred. Desire is a kind of intense
love or want that focuses people on getting and possessing and acquiring. Our
society is full of people who spend their lives working to get a bigger and better
TV, a more stylish car or a more extravagant house. This kind of desire can
lead people to destruction in the form of bankruptcy or even broken
relationships. Frost’s poem speaks on the issue of greed corrupting people and
even society. The power of hate, which is symbolised by ice is just as great as
desire. While desire consumes quickly hate produces shy yet restrained
devastation. For instance, Kate is the root cause of racism and war. It can
linger in people’s mind for lifetimes. Moreover, it consumes the hater even
more than the person hated. It thus, ruins lives.

Question 2.
The poem ‘Fire and Ice’, carries with it very deep thematic ideas. Elaborate on
these darkest traits of humanity.
Answer:
Frost presents the two of the darkest traits of humanity; the capacity to hate
and the capacity to be consumed by lust or desire. Of the two, he attributes the
greater of the two evils, is desire. In giving desire the foremost position with
regard to the destruction of the world, Frost is providing a powerful statement
on the subject of greed and jealousy, saying that above all trait of humanity
that is most likely to lead to its demise. Desire represents the greatest problem
that attributes to the cause of the war. Frost then attributes hatred with the
same capacity to do harm. However, he lessens the relative importance of
hatred but still presents it as having the ability to lead to the destruction of the
world if it were to happen for a second time.

Question 3.
The poet presents two reasons which will lead to the destruction of the
humanity. What values do you garner from the two possible causes provided
by him?
Answer:
The poet provides and deals with two possible causes for the end of the world.
He points more towards the emotional and sentimental side of the issue. As for
him, fire denotes deep passion and burning desire, while ice is highlighted for
its icy cold and hatred side of the emotions. He favours both the arguments and
says that either the deep burning passion or the cold hatred and jealousy factor
will push the people to walk on the path of destruction. The poet is sure of this
destruction of humanity. He first talks about the destruction because of fire
and in case this fails, then ice will end the world. The love that people have for
one another will turn into hatred. In race of climbing up and out do one
another, people will tend to hate each other. These negative emotions will
become so strong that it will surpass all the love and lead to the destruction of
humanity.

Question 4.
How will the world end? Support your answer with scientific explanation.
Answer:
According to the scientists, the two reasons for the destruction of the world will
be either fiery core or the ice age.
Some scientists believed that the world would be incinerated from its fiery core,
while others were convinced that a coming ice age would destroy all living
things on the Earth’s surface. In other words, either the deep heat or fire under
the Earth beds will lead to natural calamities like volcano eruptions,
earthquakes and tsunamis which will one day end the world or the melting of
ice from the snowy mountains due to global warming will shrink the world. As
a result, one day the entire world will die of the icy water. Frost, thus, tries to
warn people against the two greatest problems facing humanity and the
consequences of human vices with an increased effectiveness.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

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.

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.

i) Choose the CORRECT statement about the given poem.

a) Fire and ice are images – they help the readers visualise the power of nature over man.

b) Fire and ice are symbols – not of natural disasters but of humanity’s ability to create disasters of
its own.

c) Fire and ice are elements – not of nature but man-made and possess the ability to create havoc
for mankind.

d) Fire and ice are agents – they change the thinking of mankind from negative to positive and
bring harmony.

Correct Answer: Option (b)

ii) Select the option that correctly classifies the connotations of fire and ice, as suggested in the
poem.

(1) rage (2) violence (3) indifference (4) hate (5) greed

a) Fire – 3, 4; Ice – 1, 2, 5

b) Fire – 2, 5; Ice -1, 3, 4

c) Fire -1, 3, 5; Ice – 2, 4

d) Fire – 1, 2, 4; Ice – 3, 5

Correct Answer: Option (d)

iii) The poem is a _________, put across by the poet.

a) powerful warning

b) heartfelt apology

c) earnest appeal

d) vengeful threat

Correct Answer: Option (a)

iv) The poet uses the phrasal verb -hold with.

Choose the option that DOES NOT indicate a valid phrasal verb.

CBSE Class 10 English MCQ Chapter 1 Fire and Ice-1

a) option 1

b) option 2

c) option 3

d) option 4
Correct Answer: Option (a)

v) Pick the option that is NOT TRUE about the poet according to the
extract.

The poet

a) is inclined to believe that the world would most likely end with fire.

b) has heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in all likelihood.

c) preaches love and kindness to combat the spread of hate among all.

d) declares the power of ice to be as destructive as that of fire.

Correct Answer: Option (c)

vi) Identify the most likely tone of the poet in the lines:

‘To say that for destruction ice/Is also great’.

a) sarcastic

b) serious

c) amused

d) celebratory

Correct Answer: Option (a)