Updated on
25/05/2026
*Poem-2.
Fire and Ice (Robert Frost)*
*1. Who is the poet
of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?*
Ans. Robert Frost
*2. What do people
think about how the world will end?*
Ans. The world will
end in fire or in ice
*3. What is the
poet’s opinion?*
Ans. That the world
will end in fire
*4. What does
‘desire’ mean?*
Ans. Human passions
and greed
*5. What is ice a
symbol of?*
Ans. Ice is a symbol
of hatred
*6. What is ‘fire’ a
symbol of?*
Ans. a symbol of lust
and endless desires
*7. According to the
poet, what will end one day?*
Ans. the world
*8.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?*
Ans: The
rhyme scheme is aba abc bcb.
9. Identify the poetic device used in the
line: "I hold with those who favor fire."
Ans. Alliteration (repetition
of the /f/ sound in "favor fire")
and Assonance (repetition of
the /o/ sound in "hold with those").
10.
What is the literal meaning of the word "perish" as used in the poem?
Ans. To
"perish" means to die, be destroyed, or come to an end
*2. Fire
and Ice (Robert Frost)*
Textual Questions
1. What is ‘fire’ a
symbol of in the poem, ‘Fire and Ice’?
Ans. ‘Fire’ is a
symbol of human greed, lust and endless desires.
2. What is ‘ice’ a
symbol of in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
Ans. ‘Ice’ is a
symbol of coldness and hatred.
3. Why do some people
say that the world will end in fire?
Ans. They say so
because greed is increasing fast among people.
4. Why do some people
say that the world will end in ice?
Ans. They say so
because hatred is increasing fast among people.
5. How, according to
Robert Frost will the world end twice?
Ans. Some say the world will end in fie. Some
say in ice. The Poet has tasted both the fire and ice. He thinks that the world
will end in fire.
6. What is the main
idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
Ans. The main idea of the poem
Fire and ice is that the world will end one day because of greed and
hate which has developed among human beings. The poet thinks that this greed
and hatred will destroy the world one day.
7. ‘But if it had to
perish twice’. How will the world perish twice?
Ans. According to the poet, the world will
end due to the ‘fire’, which symbolised desire. But if the world had to end
twice then it will be due to the hatred symbolised by ‘ice’. The poet feels
that there is enough hatred in the world that is spreading among the people.
This hatred will end the world one day.
8. Explain the line: "To say that for destruction ice is
also great and would suffice."
Ans: This means that hatred is just as powerful as desire. Even
though it is "cold" and silent, hatred (ice) is strong enough to
destroy the entire world.
9. What is the difference between 'Fire' and 'Ice' in terms of
how they destroy?
Ans: Fire (desire) is a hot, fast, and passionate
force that consumes everything quickly. Ice (hatred) is a
cold, silent, and slow force that destroys from within.