I-Poetry

1. An Analysis of Symbolism in Fire
and Ice by Robert Frost
Elvera Yuniarsih
13020114120007

2. Abstract
In this paper, the writer tried to analyze "Fire and Ice"
by Robert Frost. The purpose of this study is to
investigate the intrinsic elements as fictional
languages in this poem using close reading
methods. Elements of figurative languages that used
in this study is symbolism. To conclude, Robert Frost
wants to tell that the world is tend to be ended
because of damage from fire.
 Keywords: Robert Frost, figurative language,
symbolism.

3. Introduction
Laurence Perrine in her Sound and Sense: An
Introduction to Poetry stated that,
“The content of poetry is definitely emotional. It presents the
emotions of the poet as they are aroused by some scene of
beauty, some experience, some attachment. For this reason it is
often reach in sentiment and passion. The content of poetry is,
equally, imaginative compact with meaning, marked by power,
beauty, and dignity. In order to understand this fully, we need to
understand what it is that poetry says”. (1956:3).


4. Theoretical Framework
Figurative Languages
 Figurative languages is a word or phrase that has a
meaning something different than its literal meaning. It
can be a a different way of pronouncing a word or phrase
such as with alliteration to give further meaning or a
different sound. There are many types of Figurative
languages, but in this paper, the writer only focuses on
Symbolism.
 Symbolism occurs when a noun which has meaning
in itself is used to represent something entirely different.
Examples are:
 Using an image of the American flag to represent patriotism
and a love for one’s country.
 Using an apple pie to represent an American lifestyle.
 Using an apple to represent education.

5. Scope of The Study
The Scope of the study is to analyze the
symbolism in poetry “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost.

6. The Poet, The Poem, and The Paraphrase
 Biography of the Poet
Robert Lee Frost was one of the
most important American poets of the
20th century. He was was born in San
Francisco, California, to journalist William
Prescott Frost, Jr., and Isabelle Moodie.
He was awarded the Congressional Gold
Medal in 1960 for his poetic works and
also won the Pulitzer Prize four times and
was asked to deliver poem at President
John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inauguration. He
died of complications from prostate
surgery on January 29, 1963.

7. The Poem
Fire and Ice
BY ROBERT FROST
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.

8. The Paraphrase
Frost raises questions about the fate of the
world. He wonder whether this world is likely to be
destroyed by fire or ice. Some people say that the
world will end in fire, but some others say that it will
end in ice. He come to his own conclusion from what
he have tasted of desire, so he hold with those
people who favor fire with its great flame to burn
down the world. But if had to perish it twice, He think
he know enough the potency of ice to create
destruction. Ice is also great, and it would suffice to
freeze the world. Until it would be no longer lives at
all.

9. Discussion
Symbolism
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
The opening two lines of the poem present a very distinct
dichotomy between fire and ice and the two groups of people:
one believing that fire will destroy the world, and the other
believing that ice will destroy the world. So we must be
dealing with symbols. The poet presents only two options
which will destroy the world. Though the poet uses the
personal pronoun “I” for the speaker, he has used “some” for
the people to present it as a universal statement. Literally, fire
and ice are both ways that the human species could be
extinguished. After all, the world can’t end in ice and fire at the
same time. Ice and fire also represent two extremes which, on
a grand enough scale, could cause immense damage, and are
fitting metaphors for harbingers of death.

10. From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire
Frost does not go to a deep extent with the scientific
beliefs and he introduces his personal emotional sides. His
desire with fire and hatred with ice is obvious here. He has
experienced “desire” (a “hot” emotion) so he thinks fire will end
the world. He know how powerful it is. The world “tasted”
implies that he knows a little about it. A connotation of “Desire”
is “hot” because it relates to the body. For example, love is
warm and fuzzy, but jealously and desire can get out of
control. Moreover, the fact that he has had personal
experience with both (in the form of desire and hate) reveals
that fire and ice are not mutually exclusive, as the first two
lines of the poem insist.

11. But if it had to perish twice
The idea of the world ending (perish[ing]”) twice
is a paradox. It seems that “fire” wins over “ice” thus
far.

12. I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
The speaker was sure that he has tasted desire, but
he “thinks” he knows “enough” about hate, a cold
emotion, and he knows it can destroy. It is clear that
“desire” is associated with “love,” because its opposite is
“hate.” You may think that hate is hot (fire) because it is
related to anger. But perhaps the speaker is talking about
slow and deliberate anger. The phrase “also great” does
not tell us how ice compares to fire. We can not say that
ice is more powerful that fire. In fact, though the narrator
first concludes that the world will end in fire, he ultimately
admits that the world could just as easily end in ice; fire
and ice, it seems, are strikingly similar.

13. Conclusion
 In "Fire and Ice", Robert Frost wants us to
know that fire describes as "Passion", which is hot
and hasty and ice describes as "Rational", which is
cool and deliberate by using figurative language like
symbolism. We know that we must read the poem
repeatedly to really have a deeper understanding of
the poem, so this symbolism analysis can help us to
achieve that.

14. References
Figurative Language
(http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/Figurative-Language.html accessed on December 5,
2016)
Harvey, Sir Paul, 1967. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. London; Oxford University Press,
Elly House, London W.
Holt, Henry, 1949. The Complete Poems of Robert Frost. New York; New york, Henry holt and company.
Perrine, Laurence. 1956. Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry. New York: Harcourt, Brace &
World, Inc.
Robert Frost Biography
(http://www.biography.com/people/robert-frost-20796091I accessed on December 4, 2016)
Thrall, William Flint, and Addison Hibbard. 1960. A Handbook To Literature, Third Edition. Ed. C. Hugh
Holman. New York: The Odyssey Press.
Using Contextual Analysis to evaluate texts
(http://english.unl.edu/sbehrendt/StudyQuestions/ContextualAnalysis.html accessed on December 5,
2016)
Perrine, Laurence. 1956. Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry. New York: Harcourt, Brace &
World, Inc.