Wednesday, February 20, 2013

"Fire and Ice" Analysis


"Fire and Ice": Robert Frost

            "Fire and ice" written by Robert Frost, this poem argues how the world might end and it is narrowed down to two options in the readers eyes, fire or ice. The final verdict is still unknown to him and the reader as he ends the poem in "And would suffice" leaving the reader guessing as to how it will end. In the poem the fire represents the impulsive and instinctive animal side of human actions, fire is hot like sexual desire and also in general terms love, it also represents overall desire for things and good. In terms of "Dracula" The fire could be Dracula's desire for blood since he's a vampire or it could compare again to his sexual desire and need and want for Lucy. The next symbol is ice and the ice throughout the poem represents thinking and deliberation of certain things, because ice doesn’t go or spread as quickly as fire, and is the more rational one of the two. Ice is also cold and is a representation of hate and evil towards people and things. The ice relates back to Dracula because Lucy has the more rational view of both of them, she puts some thought into decisions, unlike Dracula's desire driven decisions.

2 comments:

  1. I like the concept of the juxtaposition between fire and ice, especially as symbols between passion and isolation/bitterness. I feel like this juxtaposition is a commonly recurring theme within literature throughout all different literary periods. It relates well to Alyssa's poem "Passion and Reason XV" that she used in her presentation as well.

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    1. I think it's good as well that you compared the fire in the poem to blood and Dracula's desire for blood. Throuhgout much literature, fire can represent life, and vital to life is blood. I like how you also mention that ice is the more rational one of fire and ice. Fire is always conveyed as representing passion while ice is portrayed as more reasoned or logical because the warmth is not there.

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