In this poem the poet has made an attempt to warn the readers that earth would definitely perish if hatred or the desire to progress at the cost of everything continues.
He starts the poem with a universal view by using the word ‘some’. He does not refer to himself above but to many who hold this opinion. By using “some say” at the beginning of the first two lines he has used Anaphora It is a repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
Frost says that there are two ways which can lead to the end of the earth. It could be through destruction represent ‘Which could be caused by fire which, symbolically man’s desire to acquire & progress. Likewise ice which represents hatred and indifference is equally capable of the destruction of the earth.
He further goes on to explain that, if he, was to be given a choice he would prefer that the earth should ‘perish with man’s desire rather than with hatred. He makes this choice with the experience that he had gathered overtime. The poet has used Assonance, (It is the resemblance of sound arising from the stressed vowels) in the line ‘I hold with those who favour fire Paradoxically, he says that if the world had to ‘perish two time but because it has already perished. It is very unlikely that it can happen twice. But he states that he feels hatred and coldness are equally powerful weapons to destroy the earth. He doesn’t think that there would be any problem if the earth had to be destroyed with hatred as it can create sufficient energy required to achieve the destruction of the earth.
Fire and Ice was Written by Frost in 1920 which was immediately after the first world war. Considering the state of mind after having witnessed so much havoc, it is very likely that an apocalyptic event which would end world seemed inevitable.
