Monday, May 16, 2011

Free Form Poem: Fire and Ice

Hanna Andyani, an English teacher from Mojokerto, East Java, Indonesia, analyzes a poem entitled Fire and Ice composed by Robert Frost. She says that the poem is interesting and simple as well as meaningful so that it is suitable for students of Junior High School.

 “FIRE AND ICE”
By  Robert Frost (1874-1963)

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
1.  Type of poem : Free-form poem
2.  Poetic devices :
     a.  Rhyme scheme  : a-b-a-a-b-c-b-c-b
     b.  Rhythm  :
          Line 1  : Iambic Pentameter
          Line 2  : Iambic Dimeter
          Line 3  : Iambic Pentameter
          Line 4  : Iambic Pentameter
          Line 5  : Iambic Tetrameter
          Line 6  : Iambic Pentameter
          Line 7  : Iambic Pentameter
          Line 8  : Iambic Dimeter
          Line 9  : Iambic Dimeter
     c.  Alliteration   : The S --> Some Say --> in the first and second lines
                               The F --> Favor Fire --> in the fourth line            
     d. No Onomatopoeia
     e. Repetition     :    The word “Fire” in the first and fifth lines
                                 The word “ Ice “ in the second and seventh lines
                                 The phrase “Some Say” in the first and second lines
     f. No Comparison
3.  Style : Imagery
4.  Poetic Diction   :
     a. Denotation   :     
          1) “Some say” represent knowledge of a group of people.
          2) “ I know “ suggest personal experience
          3) “ End”, “ Fire”, “ Ice”, “ Perish”, “ Destruction” all denote death and destruction
     b. Connotation :   “ Fire”, “Desire”, and “Taste” suggest passion/consumption.
     c. No Allusion
     d. No Parody
     e. Repetition     :  The word “Fire” in the first and fifth lines
                               The word “ Ice “ in the second and seventh lines
                               The phrase “Some Say” in the first and second lines
     f.  No Ambiguity
     g. No Pun
     h. Paradox  :  “ But if I had to perish twice “, while a person is unable to die two times.
     i.  No Irony
     j.   Imagery/juxtaposition : Fire and Ice à Desire and Hate
          1) “ Fire”, when uncontrolled, viciously consumes all around it, wanting more and more as it grows. In a relationship, this fire can be set off in an instant. Desire, or jealousy, can occur in a relationship, and consequently can consume an individual until there is nothing left to burn
          2) “ Ice”, similarly hate forces the other person away, driving the life out of relationship. When left uncontrolled, these darker emotions can bring about the end of a relationship.                             
4.  Tone  : Fear
5.  Symbol  :
     a. “Fire” is directly equated with desire
     b. “Ice” represents hate
     c. “The world” as a symbol for a relationship
6.  Content :
     a. Theme : The danger of extremism        
     b. Message : People should control their desire and hate feeling in a relationship.
7.  Comment
     This poem is interesting and simple, but has deep meaning, so that it is suitable for students of Junior High School.

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