Fire and Ice - Robert Frost

[Admin]

I take the world ending in fire, and the comparison of that to passion, that the world will end because of people in effect caring too much about others to the point of them butting in too much or trying to force their beliefs on others. In a word, too much action.

I take the world ending in ice to mean the opposite, that countries would become introverted with no care about anything beyond their own borders. Complete Apathy.

The goal would be to stop the world from ending, so I'd see the underlying moral as all things in moderation.

Of course he might has also just been trying to say what someone much later was able to:

"I have only one thing to say:
Its better to burn out,
Than to fade away."

[ShockerD19]

Looking for critical analysis' on the poem to get different views and what it means, thanks.

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire,
I hold with those who favour 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

[Eric, son of Chuck]

Can't remember where I heard this quote, but "The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long." If anyone knows, let me know.

[Morgan]

i hope this isn't coming to late...

i heard your quote in blade runner...however i remeber reading it somewhere, although my memory is not willing to cooperate on that one...

[shaun]

Want to read a very cool short story about perishing by both fire AND ice at the same time? Check out Timeclock by Antone Roundy at:

http://literature.arts.mouken.com/shortstories/?item=timeclock&title=Timeclock

[didiervg]

As with a lot of poetry there's (meant to be?) several interpretations. On http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/frost/fireice.htm you'll find an overview of the interpretations of several critics of this particular poem.

FYI: I agree with Jeffrey Meyers.

[firestarter]

i would have to choose fire becuase of what passion i know and what desire i know. When i think about ice, i think about the cold (naturally), but i think about lonlieness and all negativety.

firestarter