NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Poem 1: Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice

Thinking about the Poem             (Page 15)

Question 1.

There are many ideas about how the world will ‘end’. Do you think the world will end someday? Have you ever thought what would happen if the Sun gets so hot that it ‘bursts’ or grows colder and colder?

Answer:

There are many ideas about how the world will ‘end’. I believe the world will end someday as anything that has a beginning will have an end. This stands true for the world also, if the Sun got so hot that it burst, the whole of the Earth would perish immediately as no part of the Earth can bear the heat of that intensity. But if the Sun grew colder and colder, everything will come to an end as without sunlight, life would end.

Question 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.

Question 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

This rhyme scheme helps bring out the contrasting ideas of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ presented in the poem. The poet mentions that fire and ice are probable ends of this world. He talks about how fire represents desire and can therefore be a cause of the end of the world. Frost also mentions ice in between to symbolize that the coldness and indifference towards one another will 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 is through ice. would be sufficient to bring about the end of the world.

“Fire and Ice” is a concise yet profound poem by Robert Frost that contemplates the potential means by which the world might end. The poet presents two elemental forces, fire and ice, as contrasting agents of destruction. Fire symbolizes desire, passion, and the intensity of human emotions, while ice represents hatred, coldness, and the destructive power of bitterness.

Summary of Fire and Ice (Poem)

The poem is not merely a reflection on the physical end of the world but also serves as a metaphor for the destructive forces within human relationships. Frost suggests that unrestrained passion (fire) and deep-seated hatred (ice) have the potential to bring about calamity on both a personal and global scale.

The brevity of the poem, coupled with its vivid imagery and symbolism, invites readers to contemplate the consequences of unchecked emotions. “Fire and Ice” prompts introspection on the human condition and the delicate balance required to navigate the extremes of desire and animosity. Through its succinct verses, the poem urges us to consider the impact of our emotions on ourselves and the world around us.