VERY IMPORTANT
Revise:
- Tone of poem
- Literary devices (metaphor, symbolism, imagery)
- Meaning of phrase
- Character emotion
Fire and Ice
Extract
“Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.”
- What do ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ symbolise?
- Identify the literary device used in these lines.
- What tone does the poet adopt?
- Which human emotions are associated with fire and ice?
- What is the central idea of the poem?
Assertion: Fire represents desire.
Reason: Desire can destroy the world.
Inference:
- The poem implies that uncontrolled emotions lead to ______.
- Describe the poet as a thoughtful observer of human emotions.
- Why must we control destructive emotions like anger and greed?
- How can excessive desire harm society?
- Compare destructive emotions in Fire and Ice and greed in The Necklace.
- Compare human desires in Fire and Ice and Horace Danby’s obsession (A Question of Trust).
- Compare acceptance of death in The Sermon at Benares and detachment in Fire and Ice.
- What do fire and ice symbolise?
- How does the poem relate to human emotions?
- “Fire and Ice” was first published in 1920. Briefly explain how the WW I might have influenced the theme of the poem.
- Create a tag line / slogan / catchphrase for the poem.
- The tone of the speaker contrasts with the seriousness of the subject matter. Justify.
- Fire and Ice projects a pessimistic outlook. Comment.
- Evaluate the line- Some say the world will end in fire/Some say in ice- in the context of volcanic eruptions, forest fires, meteor collisions, melting ice caps etc.
- Imagine that Nelson Mandela read ‘Fire and Ice’.
As Mandela, write a diary entry associating the impact of the troubled history of South Africa with the idea expressed in the poem.
You may begin like this:
10 May 1994, Tuesday 10 p.m.
Today, when I am the President of South Africa, I can’t help recalling Robert Frost’s ‘Fire and Ice’…………………(continue)…………………. - Most of your classmates, like Frost, feel that man’s greed and rage or hate, would lead the world to its destruction. You feel that the ‘fire and ice’ in Mankind can be addressed to create a harmonious world. Write a speech, for your classmates, expressing your belief/s with respect to
the poem.
Dust of Snow
- How does nature change the poet’s mood?
- What does “dust of snow” symbolise?
- Compare nature’s healing power in Dust of Snow and Fog.
- Compare mood transformation in Dust of Snow and The Ball Poem.
- Compare symbolism in Fog and Dust of Snow.
- How can small incidents change our negative mood?
- Why should we remain open to nature’s healing power?
- Describe the poet’s emotional state before and after the incident.
- Rationalise what you think the poet was probably doing when the dust of snow fell on him?
- What does the presence of a hemlock tree tell you about the setting of the poem?
- The dusting of snow on account of the crow helped make the poet’s day better. How do you think the crow’s droppings might have impacted the poet?
- ‘Dust of Snow’ is one of Frost’s most loved poems. Elaborate why you think this is so.
- The poem evokes a sense of black and white. Justify.
- The crow and hemlock are usually used as negative references in literature. How is this different in this poem?
- As a crow you feel highly injured by the incorrect perception humans have about your species. Imagine yourself to be a crow and write your opinion about this prejudice. Make a case for breaking stereotypes.
- Imagine that Frost is of present day and has been invited to write for an ezine – “Teen Talk”. He chooses to draw upon his experience with the crow and the dusting of snow to share his thoughts on ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’. As Frost, express your thoughts for the e-zine.
Assertion: A small incident changed the poet’s mood.
Reason: Nature has healing power.
Inference:
- The poem suggests that positivity can arise from ______.
