Fire and Ice Interpretation - Robert Frost

Fire and Ice Interpretation

In Robert Frost poem Fire and Ice pertains to the ultimate question being asked during the time how the world will end either burning in fire, or freezing in Ice. Frost is not just referring to the world but, his experiences with relationships. He is talking about his experiences when he says in line 3 “From what I have tasted”. Although the poem may talk about the world ending, in a deeper context Frost is relating it to human relationships where fire relates to desire and ice is to hatred. The fiery desire is the obsession and passion in a relationship whereas, Icey hatred is the coldhearted, emotionless characteristics. These two elements are capable of destroying a relationship. Frost uses tone, diction, Imagery, figurative language, rhythm, and most importantly symbols to create links fire and ice to relationships.

The poem starts off with a gloomy and unattached tone but also has a glimpse of wittiness. Frost sets this the gloomy tone by explaining that the world will come to an end in a bitterly way either in fire or Ice giving the audience no other option but, the humor comes into action on the last line of the poem when he says “is also great and would be suffice.”(Line 8 and 9). In these lines he is saying that whether, the world ends in fire or Ice and if a relationship ends with desire or hatred one or the other will lead to an end. Suffice means that it will still be okay in the end. There is sort of an irony in this poem because it seems as if it may be depressing at the beginning but towards the end it leaves off with contentment, yet with no definite conclusion.