Lines 1-2
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
At the outset, the
poet starts with the question of ending the world. What does he mean? Does he
mean the Apocalypse, complete annihilation or is he referring to the doomsday? Whatever
might be, he indicates the destruction of the world. The poet here symbolically
means that the destruction of the world will take place due to the fire or the
ice. Here fire indicates human emotion and desire whereas the ice
indicates hatred. Some philosophers,
for example, have divided the human soul into “rational” and
“animal” components, where the “rational” is cool and
deliberate, while the “animal” is hot and hasty.
poet starts with the question of ending the world. What does he mean? Does he
mean the Apocalypse, complete annihilation or is he referring to the doomsday? Whatever
might be, he indicates the destruction of the world. The poet here symbolically
means that the destruction of the world will take place due to the fire or the
ice. Here fire indicates human emotion and desire whereas the ice
indicates hatred. Some philosophers,
for example, have divided the human soul into “rational” and
“animal” components, where the “rational” is cool and
deliberate, while the “animal” is hot and hasty.
Word Meanings
NIL
POETIC
DEVICES USED
DEVICES USED
1. Alliteration
a. Some say;
b. World will
2. Antithesis-
a. Fire…..ice
Lines 3-4
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
In the above lines,
the poet talks about the desire i. e. symbolic replica of fire. The poet goes
on referring desire as hot emotion and he states that he is in
favour of those who are lined up with the fire. He begins with the word ‘Tasted’
which indicates that he has already experienced the pang of human emotions and
desires. In a way, the poet affirms that he knows how powerful fire can be as a
tool for the destruction of the world.
the poet talks about the desire i. e. symbolic replica of fire. The poet goes
on referring desire as hot emotion and he states that he is in
favour of those who are lined up with the fire. He begins with the word ‘Tasted’
which indicates that he has already experienced the pang of human emotions and
desires. In a way, the poet affirms that he knows how powerful fire can be as a
tool for the destruction of the world.
1. tasted-(here) experienced
2. hold- (here) support
POETIC
DEVICES USED
DEVICES USED
3. Alliteration
a. favor fire;
Line 5
But if it had to perish twice,
This very line
takes us to question why would the poet wish the world to be the perished again?
And if the world had to be perished a second time why would not the fire be the
tool again to do this? Perhaps the poet wishes us to consider the fact that
fire dealing with hot impulsive emotions is animal in nature and thus
instinctive and not well thought. Whereas icy actions require proper thought
cool-headedness and no impulsive action.
takes us to question why would the poet wish the world to be the perished again?
And if the world had to be perished a second time why would not the fire be the
tool again to do this? Perhaps the poet wishes us to consider the fact that
fire dealing with hot impulsive emotions is animal in nature and thus
instinctive and not well thought. Whereas icy actions require proper thought
cool-headedness and no impulsive action.
Word Meanings
1. perish- destroy
POETIC DEVICES USED
NIL
Lines 6-8
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
Like the fire denoting
the emotion and desire, the poet has even experienced hate which is similar to
icy cold emotion. We are not aware of how the poet has known enough of ice in
other way hate. He thinks alongside of impulsive anger hatred is also a great tool
which is another great way by which this world will see its end.
the emotion and desire, the poet has even experienced hate which is similar to
icy cold emotion. We are not aware of how the poet has known enough of ice in
other way hate. He thinks alongside of impulsive anger hatred is also a great tool
which is another great way by which this world will see its end.
Word Meanings
NOTHING IMPORTANT
POETIC DEVICES USED
1. Symbolism- Ice as
hatred
hatred
Line 9
And would suffice.
The concluding line
puts us in a dilemma whether the fire is stronger than ice or vice versa. Overall
he suggests that whether it is fire or ice, both are enough(suffice) for the happening,
the end of the world.
puts us in a dilemma whether the fire is stronger than ice or vice versa. Overall
he suggests that whether it is fire or ice, both are enough(suffice) for the happening,
the end of the world.
Word Meanings
1
1.Suffice- enough