Analysis of "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost

A favorite poem of mine is Robert Frost's "Fire and Ice." In just a few lines Frost is able to portray a huge meaning to his readers. Through literary devices, Frost reveals what will ultimately bring the world to an end. He provides us with two paths that will end the world which are fire and ice.

The most noticeable literary device used in Frost's "Fire and Ice" is metaphor. The words "fire" and "ice" are compared to ways that Frost believes the world will end. Fire is compared to desire when Frost states in lines three and four:

"From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire."

Here Frost is referring to his own life and feelings of desire. By comparing fire to desire we get the sense that desire is a sin. Ice is compared to hatred in lines six through eight:

"I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great."

Here, Frost also refers to his own experiences with hate. By comparing fire to desire and ice to hate he emphasizes their destruction. This catches the readers' attention and helps to convey Frost's meaning in the poem. Frost is also comparing acts of nature to acts of humans. The natural forces of fire and ice are conveyed as equally destructive as the most common acts of humans which are desire, or love, and hate. Here Frost is pointing out to his readers that we are just as destructive to our world as natural disasters.

Another literary device Frost uses is symbolism. Fire and ice are also symbols of desire and hate. Fire is a symbol for desire because fire is capable of consuming and destroying everything in its path. The same can be said for desire. Passion is able to consume people and make them become irrational. Sometimes passion is so strong it can lead people to murder. Fire is also capable of killing those in its path, which is why it helps to point out Frost's thoughts that fire could be a destructive force that would destroy the world. However, Frost is really saying that desire and passion could be the end of the world. He does not literally mean that a fire will burn the world. Fire is just used as a symbol for desire which helps the reader see a deeper meaning in the poem. Ice is a symbol for hatred. People full of hate tend to be more rigid and cold, and it consumes them to where their lives become frozen and immobile. Here Frost is not saying that the world will literally freeze over, but that people will become so consumed with hate that they will let it "freeze" and consume their lives. This helps the reader see the deeper meaning of the true forces at work destroying our world. Frost wants the reader to see that it's not forces of nature that will destroy us, but humans themselves will be their own destruction.

Frost's diction in the poem helps point out meaning to his readers. Frost using the antonym words, fire and ice, makes another point to the reader. These words are complete opposites and they both represent complete opposites: love and hate. Frost says that fire will be the end of the world. He puts the chances of the world perishing in fire above the chances of it freezing over. Since fire symbolizes desire and ice symbolizes hate, Frost is putting love before hate. He conveys that love can be more destructive than hate. Fire spreads rapidly and consumes things quickly whereas ice consumes things slower. Perhaps Frost is saying that if love is used the wrong way it can result in destruction. People always see hate as destructive, but love is always viewed positively. Frost gives love a negative view which most people are not used to unless they are reading about heartbreak. He reveals its power by comparing it to fire. Another thing that stands out is that fire can destroy ice. Perhaps Frost is saying that love is so powerful it can overcome hate. That might be why he chooses to side with those who believe fire will be the end of the world. In Frost's eyes love is so powerful it can even eliminate the other force that might end the world.

Frost also uses satire in this poem. His tone is satirical for the subject he is writing about. The end of the world is a serious subject to most people, but Frost almost turns it into a joke with his satirical tone. For example, in lines five through nine Frost completely turns from favoring fire to saying that ice would also be able to pull off destroying the world. However, he says this would happen if the world were to perish twice. It almost sounds like a joke, the first time the world perishes it will be by fire, but if it perishes again it will definitely be by ice. The world cannot end twice because once it is gone it is gone. By doing this Frost puts a lighter tone to his poem and helps the reader to think about what he is saying. If he was more serious he would not have caught the attention of the reader. By being short and witty he is able to get the readers attention on the most important aspects of the poem. Frost makes the world ending by ice, or hate, seem more as a joke which leaves the reader's attention on fire and love and their destructive characteristics.

Through the literary devices of metaphor, symbolism, diction, and satire Robert Frost is able to help convey a deeper meaning in his poem, "Fire and Ice", to the reader. Upon noticing these devices, the reader is able to look deeper into the poem and learn something that goes beyond just the words of the poem. In just a few lines of poetry Frost is able to warn his readers of the destructive powers of desire and hate. The themes presented in this poem can be interpreted many ways depending on who is reading the poem, but with the use of Frost's literary devices he is able to steer his readers in a certain direction. In the end, Frost leaves his readers with a lesson to ponder about.