There are countless ways that people have predicted the earth will end, ranging from a magnificent second coming of Christ to some more scientific terminations such as a great meteor striking the planet or global warming flooding the earth. It is this more scientific approach, with a bit of an imaginative edge of course, that Robert Frost examines in his poem, "Fire and Ice".
The poem is very brief, but as with all of Frost's poems, there is much to ponder in each line. Frost simply starts the poem by literally stating that some feel the earth will end in fire and that some feel cessation will come about with ice. More broadly however, Frost is probably trying to give the reader the thought that no one truly knows how the world will end and people have varying views on the matter. .
Frost also goes on to convey his feelings on how he would like the conclusion to come about. He feels that an ending with fire would be much more passionate and dramatic than an icy end in the lines, "From what I've tasted of desire / I hold with those who favor fire." Frost obviously feels fire is much more spectacular than ice. And who wouldn't agree? Fire is a very mystifying phenomenon, going way back to mythology and Prometheus" burning temptation to steal fire from the Greek Gods. On the other hand, ice is simply cold and uninteresting. Frost also makes his preference of fire over ice very clear with his tactful language and tone. The use of the world desire in relation to an ending involving fire gives the reader a very stellar, spectacular image.
Once Frost has made the reader aware of his preference of fire, he goes on to say that although fire would be his first choice, ice would also suffice. Again Frost has more subtle ways to make the reader more keenly aware of the poem. The language used as Frost goes on to speak of ice is much more dull and boring than that used in the discussion of fire.
