1. Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. Robert Frost

2. Analysis Questions
1. How does the metaphor of fire and ice convey the author’s message/theme of the poem?
2. Why are those two elements of nature, fire and ice, used in the poem and not other elements?

3. Figurative Language Term- Implied Metaphor
Example: Some say the world will end in fire. Some say in ice.
Explanation: People’s desire and greed for things in the world is represented by the elements of fire. Ice symbolizes war and fighting which can cause destruction along with fire. Peoples’ wants and needs become so great that they cannot always be meant and they will become angry which can lead to destruction and violence.

4. Figurative Language Term- Figure Of Speech
Example: From what I’ve tasted of desire.
Explanation: You can’t literally taste desire. Frost is using desire as a figure for his readers. This figure is representing what Frost has learned about desire and what it can do to a person.

5. Figurative Language Term- Imagery
Example: Some say the world will end in fire. Some say ice.
Explanation: This image that Frost is creating in the readers imagination is to show that peoples’ desire and greed can completely take over the world and cause violence. The violence is seen through the element of fire and the world being “frozen” because of everyone’s desire is shown through the element of ice.