[779] Fire and Ice
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 say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
-- Robert Frost
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[Somebody Else's Commentary]
Initially, few readers progressed in their appreciation beyond the
deceptively simple surfaces of his poems. But Frost writes symbolic poetry;
to arrive at certain basic truths about life, he explores feelings and
thoughts obliquely, through the use of simple bucolic incidents. Poems as
immediately accessible as "Stopping by Woods", "Mending Wall" and "Birches"
possess levels of meaning that are dark and profound - like subtle literary
parables. Although few of his early readers ever went beyond the delight to
the wisdom of Frost's poetry, the notion that he was merely the singer of a
benevolent nature is no longer accepted. He was a passionate and troubled
man, who sought in his poems 'a momentary stay against confusion'; and his
skillfully constructed poems testify to his mastery over that confusion.
-- Gary Geddes, "20th Century Poetry and Poetics" (Oxford, 1996).
[My Own Commentary]
Frost is a master at making simple words say profound things. Here, he takes
an idle daydream, a whimsical (albeit slightly dark) musing, and converts it
into a telling insight into the destructive power of desire and hate, fire
and ice respectively. The metaphor is apt, and powerful: just as fire and
ice may one day destroy the external, physical world, desire and hate
destroy the internal, spiritual one. Very gnomic, and very Frost.
thomas.
[Minstrels Links]
Other poems by Robert Frost:
Poem #730, "Mending Wall"
Poem #681, "The Secret Sits"
Poem #336, "A Patch of Old Snow"
Poem #170, "The Need of Being Versed in Country Things"
Poem #155, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"
Poem #51, "The Road Not Taken "
The last of these has a biography and lots of critical notes.
From: Yvette R Sangiorgio <yvetters@>
I would like to submit another interpretation of Robert Frost's poem, "Fire
and Ice." Just as fire and ice are opposites, so is desire, or lust, born
of fire, and hate, born out of ice, a coldness and lack of feeling or
caring. Frost presents us with contradictory images. Both emotions are
extremes of love, not merely spiritual love, but the love of humans, of
humanity. Both of these extremes destroy the soul of humanity and the
individual, and the metaphors of fire and ice fit. The beauty of the poem
is revealed when Frost unifies two opposites into a coherent form to make
us understand their connection.
From: SO1227@
Years ago while in high school, my literature book had a page with this poem
on it.
I have always loved it, but could not remember the author.
I graduated in 1963 and have never forgotten this poem. It just said so much.
I've quoted it to people over the years and most people just kind of make a
face as if it's a morbid thought. But to me it's pure human nature, it says
it all.
Just recently I was watching TV and the very first part of the poem was
quoted for a new series, which at this moment I can't even remember what the
series name is.
But the minute the actor said "Some say the world," I quoted the rest with
him and nearly fell of my chair because I've never found one person who knew
this poem.
Anyway thank heaven I found out the author and I'll always love it.
From: Abid Nimer <megaabid2000@>
This poem describes the similarities between fire and desire, and between ice and hate. Fire is always changing, wanting more [to burn], as does desire, yet ice is cold and hard, always staying the same, as is hate.
From: XxSweeTyJ1xX@
I love this poem. After my class finished "The Outsiders", my English teacher
recited part of this poem to us, since it was also by Robert Frost. I found
it so wonderful, that as soon as I got home, I went and looked it up, and
memorized it. It's really great how Robert Frost could talk about things such as
loyalty, hate, and desire, yet use words like "fire and ice." It takes a real
genious to do this.
From: <weixiyen@>
My interpretation of this poem is that it DOESN'T MATTER if the world
ends in fire or ice. It will end so stop thinking about it.
http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/779.html
Weixi Yen
From: "MAtt THe MAn" <monkiezexist@>
i need help with explicating this poem. i have a two page paper due at 6
From: Mafkari69@
Hello;
Would you please e-mail your description about "Fire and Ice" for me?
From: ConfusedGuy666@
Ummm... I dont know if I'm doing the right place for comments on this poem or
not, but I think that fire and ice is symbolic, saying taht fire is desire
and ice is like a hatred. Two complete opposites taht could come together for
one cause of evil.
From: "TOM TORTCH" <PYROPHILIA@>
The temporal element to "Fire and Ice" appeals to me. Fire is rapid and
consuming. It leaves only ashes. Freezing, on the other hand, is slow
and stagnant. It leaves all; but can't
progress. In the end it doesn't matter because dead is dead. The choice
is yours."Is it better to burn-out or to fade away?"
From: "Scott Johnston" <scottjohnston@>
Does anyone see the irony of this poem besides me? I see that the authors
last name is FROST certainly this could have been a play against his own
name could it not?
From: Kris Snow <krisnow@>
A great poem by Robert Frost. I have always liked this one. Reading it
"feels" good, the way it flows. And it was nice reading so many comments
on it. I particularly liked the one by Tom Tortch.....about the temporal
element in this poem. Burn out or fade away? I know which I personally
would pick! The poem is about extremes....in emotions, in elements...but
either way, leaving no doubt in your mind where you end up.
Kris