Page 3 - fire & ice poem

Perish- die
Suffice- be sufficient

Then by not waving off the first option of fire, he considers if the world has to expire twice,
ice would be equally competent in ending it. He brings about a contrast between “ice” and
“hatred”. The human capability of insensitivity and hatred has the potential for inner
destruction. Though slow and steady, it has the same effect that desire has on us. So if given
an option between fire and ice, ice would be just as good as fire to destroy the world.

Fire and Ice - Literary devices

1. Rhyming scheme- Aba

abc
bcb

2. Assonance- it is repetition of vowel sounds in same line. The repetition is at different
places in different words.
Example- The long sound of “o” in “I hold with those who favour fire”

3. Alliteration- alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound at the start of two or more
closely placed words.
Example- The sound of “f” in “favour fire”, “w” in “world will”

4. Imagery- Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses.
Example- “Some say the world will end in fire”
“To say that for destruction ice Is also great”

5. Anaphora- the repetition of a word or expression at the start of two or more consecutive
lines.

Example - “Some say” is repeated at the start of lines 1 and 2.
6. Personification- Personification is to give human qualities to inanimate objects. In this
poem, “fire” and “ice” are capable of destruction. Thus, the poet personifies fire and ice by
giving them mind and power to destroy anything.
7. Enjambment- it is defined as the thought or clause that does not come to an end at a line
break, rather it moves over to the next line.

Example- “From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire”