Fire and Ice by Robert Frost - Analysis Figurative Language

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.

Analysis:

1. “Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice."

In the first and second lines of poetry, the word "some say" is used Anaphora. Anaphora is a type of figurative language in which words/phrases are repeated in a sentence.

2. “Some say the world will end in fire,”

The first line is also found in the figurative language Metaphor on the word "fire". The word "fire" has the same meaning as "desire" in this context. Because fire may represent a person's emotional temperament, as well as a person's desire. Desire is described as the cause of the end of the world in this poetry because desire will lead humans to the end of the world, which is full of hate, conflict, lust, ego, and other negative emotions. Metaphor is a sort of figurative language in which two things are compared or equaled without using the words "like" or "as."

3. “Some say in ice.”

There is also a Metaphor in the word "ice" in this line. The word "ice" is a substitute for "indifference." Ice can indicate indifference as it is always cold. In this context, indifference indicates that the absence of care for each other will be the cause of the world's end.

4. “I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice”

There is a type of Personification in the seventh line. When referring to the previous sentence the word "hate" who does "destruction ice", just like humans. Personification is a figurative language that shows objects, animals, plants, or abstract ideas that act like humans.