Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Previous Year Questions - Fire and Ice

Ans: The evidence is the speaker’s personal experience with desire.
Explanation:

• The speaker states, “From what I’ve tasted of desire,” indicating that their preference for fire as the cause of the world’s end is based on their understanding or experience of desire.
• Desire is associated with fire in the poem, symbolizing intense emotions like passion, greed, or ambition, which the speaker believes could lead to destruction.
• This personal connection to desire suggests that the speaker finds it a powerful and destructive force, supporting their inclination toward the theory that the world will end in fire.

Ans: The poet predicts that the world could end either in fire, symbolizing destructive desires like greed or passion, or in ice, representing hatred and indifference. He leans toward fire but acknowledges ice’s destructive potential.

Ans: (B) metaphors
Explanation:

• "Fire" and "ice" are used as metaphors in the poem, symbolizing human emotions and their destructive potential.
• Fire represents desire, passion, greed, or ambition, which can consume and destroy.
• Ice symbolizes hatred, indifference, or emotional coldness, which can also lead to ruin.
• They are not similes (which use "like" or "as"), not repetition (though the words are repeated, the device is metaphorical), and not oxymorons (as they do not combine contradictory terms).

Ans: The overall mood of this extract is serious and thoughtful. The poet is reflecting on the possible end of the world, considering two equally destructive forces — fire and ice. The tone is calm but somber, as it deals with a deep and universal concern. The poet’s reference to his own experience with desire adds a personal and reflective touch, making the mood more intense. The short, simple lines and rhythmic flow give the poem a sense of finality, creating an atmosphere that feels both contemplative and a little ominous.

Ans: Robert Frost presents two very different views of nature in Dust of Snow and Fire and Ice. In Dust of Snow, nature is shown as a positive and healing force. The simple act of a crow shaking snow off a hemlock tree changes the poet’s mood, filling him with hope and making him value the day. This shows that nature can inspire and bring emotional relief even through small, ordinary events. In contrast, Fire and Ice presents nature as destructive and powerful. Fire and ice are used as metaphors for human emotions — desire and hatred — that can bring about the end of the world. While Dust of Snow highlights nature’s ability to heal and transform, Fire and Ice reminds us of nature’s potential to destroy when linked with negative human emotions. Together, these poems show Frost’s balanced view of nature as both a source of hope and a symbol of destruction.

Ans: The poet uses 'fire' and 'ice' as metaphors to depict how uncontrolled desires and hatred can lead to the world's destruction.He suggests that both emotions have the potential to destroy the world.

Ans: The poem conveys that both unbridled passions ('fire') and cold indifference or hatred ('ice') have the potential to destroy the world, highlighting the destructive power of human emotions.

Ans: The poem illustrates that extreme emotions like desire and hatred can lead to catastrophic outcomes. 'Fire' represents burning desires that can consume and destroy, while 'ice' symbolizes cold hatred that can freeze and obliterate. Both extremes are detrimental and can lead to the world's end.

Ans: In the poem, Frost employs 'fire' and 'ice' as symbols to represent human emotions. 'Fire' stands for intense desires and passions, which can lead to conflicts and destruction. 'Ice' signifies hatred and indifference, capable of causing isolation and demise. Through these symbols, Frost emphasizes that both emotions, if unchecked, can have catastrophic consequences.

Ans: According to the poet, humans’ never-ending desires and ever-increasing hatred would be enough to bring destruction to the world. In the poem, the fire represents desire. Like fire, desire spreads quickly and overpowers a person's sane thinking and whole life. The poet personally holds the conviction that the world will primarily end in fire as he was a victim of the fiery aspect of desire. He had experienced its destructive effects in life by his own confession (from what I’ve tasted ....)

Ans: (a)
In the poem, Fire symbolizes emotions such as desire and cruelty, while Ice represents insensitivity and hatred.

Ans: (c) have the same opinion as
The phrase "I hold with those" means "I have the same opinion as those" who believe in the destructive power of fire, making (c) the correct replacement.

Ans:
In the poem, ice stands for hatred and emotional coldness. The poet believes that this indifference is powerful enough to bring destruction. Just like fire, ice can lead to the end of the world through emotional numbness and a lack of empathy.

Ans: The poem "Fire and Ice" explores the potential ways the world might come to an end, using powerful symbolism to convey its message. In the poem, fire symbolizes intense human desires such as lust, greed, and passion. On the other hand, ice represents coldness, hatred, and emotional indifference. The poet suggests that the world could meet its demise either through the destructive force of unchecked greed and desire (fire) or through the apathy and hatred that lead to emotional detachment (ice). By using these contrasting symbols, the poem effectively highlights how both extremes of human emotion have the potential to bring about destruction, whether through overwhelming intensity or complete emotional numbness.