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Question
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem?
Solution
The rhyme scheme of the poem is as follows:
1st stanza: a b a a
2nd stanza: a b a b a
The contrasting ideas of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are presented using this rhyme scheme. He mentions that both fire and ice are probable ends of this world. While he talks about how fire represents desire and can therefore be a cause of the end of the world, he also mentions ice in between to symbolise that the coldness and indifference towards one another will also 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 through ice would be sufficient to bring about the end of the world.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
For Frost, what do ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for? Here are some ideas:
| Greed | Avarice | Cruelty | Lust |
| Conflict | Fury | Intolerance | Rigidity |
| Insensitivity | Coldness | Indifference | Hatred |
Explain why the poet personally holds the conviction that the world will primarily end in fire?
(Fire and Ice)
Read the given extract and answer the following questions.
| 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. Fill the blank with one word. (1)
When the speaker says that ice could also bring about the end of the world, he refers to _______ as the means for destruction.
ii. What does the speaker's alignment with those who favour ice suggest? (1)
iii. Which of the following best describes the speaker's attitude towards destruction caused by ice?
- Indifferent
- Fearful
- Dismissive
- Respectful
iv. Comment on the poet’s use of language in these lines. (2)
