Robert Frost Fire and Ice Essay

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Robert Frost's short poem, “Fire and Ice”. The frequently asked question about the destruction of the world and how it is going to end is put into the readers mind, wondering if the world is more likely to be destroyed by fire or ice. Only nine lines long, this little poem is a brilliant example of Frost’s literary style. People are on both sides of the debate, and Frost introduces the reader to provide his personal opinion on the question of the end of the world. Frost first concludes that the world must end in fire after considering his personal experience with desire and passion, the emotions of fire. Yet, after considering his experience with “ice,” or hatred, the narrator acknowledges that ice would be equally destructive. In the first two lines of the poem, Frost clearly differentiates between fire and ice and the two groups of people that believe in each element. By using the term “some” instead of “I” or “an individual,” Frost implies that the distinction between the two elements is a universal truth, not just an idea promoted by an individual. In addition to the inevitable opposition between fire and ice, these first lines also outline the claim that the world will end as a direct result of one of these elements. It is not clear which element will destroy the world, but it is important to understand that fire and ice are the only options. The poem does not allow for any other possibilities in terms of the world’s fate, just as there are not any other opinions allowed in the debate between fire and ice. *Rather than continuing with a scientific perspective on this debate, Frost presents a more emotional side, associating passionate desire with fire and hatred with ice. Within this view of the two elements, the “world” can be recognized as a metaphor for a relationship. Too much fire and passion can quickly destroy a relationship, while cold
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