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.
Questions :
a) What do people think about the ending of the world?
(b) What is the poet’s opinion?
(c) What does ‘desire’ mean here?
STANZA 2
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.
Questions :
a) What does ‘it’ refer to here?
(b) How is ‘ice’ sufficient for destruction?
C) What is the main idea of these lines?
(d) What is ice a symbol Of?
e) What Is the rhyme scheme of this stanza?
Stanza-3
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.
a) What do some people say?
(b) What do others say?
(c) What has the poet tasted?
(d) Whom does the poet support?
Stanza-4:
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.
Questions:
(a) What has to perish twice?
(b) What does the poet know enough?
(c) What is also great for destruction?
(d) What does ‘ice’ symbolise in these lines?
Answers
Answer:
STANZA:1
(A) The people think about ending of the world that the world will end with fire and ice which implies greed , desire and hate of the human being.
(B) In this stanza, the poet opinion is with those who favors fire.
(C) Here desire means the greed to earn more and get more nature of human beings.
STANZA:2
(A) Here 'it' reffers to the world.
(B) Ice is enough for the destruction.
as,here ice refer the hate which help in destruction of the world by its own people by starting a war between them.
(C) These line indicates that according to the people's belive the earth will end with ice or hate ,which is strong enough to end the world for which poet was also favoring ice.
(D) Here ice is a symbol of hatred.
(E) The rhyming scheming of this stanza is ababa.
STANZA:3
(A) Some people say that the earth will end in fire.
(B) Other people say that the world will end with ice.
(C) The poet had tasted the desire .for which he is in the favor of those who support fire.
(D)The poet support to them who favour fire.
STANZA:4
(A)Here the world had to perish twice.
(B)Here the people know enough about hate.
(C)Here ice is also great for destruction.
(D)Here ice symbolise of hate.
Answer:
1 Some people think that earth will end by fire means earth will explodes at end due to unsustainable use of resources. Some people think that earth will end by ice means earth will freeze at end due to anger in people which can be only done by cooling.
2 According to the poet, the world will end due to the 'fire', which symbolises desire. But if the world had to end twice then it will be due to the hatred symbolised by 'ice'. The poet feels that there is enough hatred in the world that is spreading among the people....
3 desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for. desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim