Poetry Analysis

FIRE AND ICE by Robert Frost

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

"Fire and Ice" was an early poem in Robert Frost's writing career, but also one of his most powerful. In it, the narrator dwells on how the end of the world will transpire--a common enough topic, but the way Frost deals with it is what makes this poem so memorably unique.

The poem begins with a dichotomy: "Some say the World will end in fire/Some say in ice." It continues to compare the two possible outcomes, but neither is confidently chosen--the narrator seems content with letting the reader choose which scenario is the more likely. This poem is written in iambic pentameter--the most common style in the English language--but it is not strict. The first line ends with an unstressed syllable--"Some say the world will end in fire"--and does not pick it up again on the next line--"Some say in ice" [italics represent stressed syllables]. However, some lines adhere to form; for instance, "I think I know enough of hate." Every line has either eight or four syllables, and utilizes an irregular rhyme scheme to great effect: a-b-a-a-b-c-b-c-b.

Frost uses powerful figurative language and symbolism in this poem. For example, he compares "fire" to "desire" and "ice" to "hate," referring to the emotional natures of both. Desire consumes like a raging inferno; hate freezes our hearts. From the language, we can infer that there are two schools of thought on the matter: those who favor fire, and those who favor ice.

The poem builds steadily to what the reader expects to be a punchy climax, set off by the line "to say that for destruction ice." But it ends on an almost abrupt note, leaving us with the sense that it ended almost too quickly. There is a trace of sarcasm in the final two lines: the author says that ice would "suffice" to destroy the world.

"Fire and Ice" is a sly contemplation on the end of days, masterfully executed and a pleasure to read.