CBSE Class 10 English Fire And Ice Worksheet

 

‘Fire and Ice’ is a symbolic poem by Robert Frost. The poet wants to make the humanity aware that everything will end one day as a result of human misdeeds. The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. Fire of violent

desires will put the world to an end. If the world had to perish twice then it will be-perished by- the hatred between man and man. Ice has been presented as a symbol of hatred.

 

Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow:
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour 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.

Questions:

Question. Choose the CORRECT statement about the given poem.
(i) Fire and ice are images—they help the readers visualise the power of nature over man.
(ii) Fire and ice are symbols—not of natural disasters, but of humanity’s ability to create disasters of its own.
(iii) Fire and ice are elements—not of nature but man-made and possess the ability to create havoc for mankind.
(iv) Fire and ice are agents—they change the thinking of mankind from negative to positive and bring harmony.
Answer. B

Question. Select the option that correctly classifies the connotations for fire and ice, as suggested in the poem.
1. rage 2. insensitivity 3. intolerance 4. hate 5. greed
(i) Fire- 3, 4; Ice- 1, 2, 5
(ii) Fire- 2, 5; Ice-1, 3, 4
(iii) Fire-1, 3, 5; Ice- 2, 4
(iv) Fire- 1, 2, 4; Ice- 3, 5
Answer. C

Question. The poem is a .................., put across by the poet.
(i) powerful warning
(ii) heart-felt apology
(iii) earnest appeal
(iv) vengeful threat
Answer. A

Question. Pick the option that is NOT TRUE about the poet according to the extract.
The poet:
(i) is inclined to believe that the world would most likely end with fire.
(ii) has heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in all likelihood.
(iii) preaches love and kindness to combat the spread of hate among all.
(iv) declares the power of ice to be as destructive as that of fire.
Answer. B

Choose the correct answer.

Question. The human capability of what has the potential for inner destruction? (Fire and Ice)
(i) Insensitivity
(ii) Hatred
(iii) Both (i) & (ii)
(iv) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Answer. C

Question. What is the rhyme scheme in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?
(i) ababc
(ii) abcab
(iii) ababa
(iv) abbbc
Answer.  C

Question. The ‘hatred’ has the same adverse impact on us as:
(i) love
(ii) jealous
(iii) desire
(iv) None of these
Answer. C

Question. Why do some people say that the world will end in ice?
(i) Because love among people is increasing fast.
(ii) Because hatred among people is increasing fast.
(iii) Because lust among people is increasing fast.
(iv) None of the above
Answer. B

 

 

1. Some say the world will end in fire

    Some say in ice.

    From what I’ve tasted of desire

    I hold with those who favour fire.

 

 

(a) What do people think about the ending of the world?

 

(b) What is the poet’s opinion?

 

(c) What does ‘desire’ mean here?

 

(d) What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza?

 

2. 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.

 

 

(a) What does ‘it’ refer to here?

 

(b) How is ‘ice’ sufficient for destruction?

 

(C) What is the main idea of these lines?

 

(d) What is ice a symbol of?

 

 

1. What is the underlying idea of the poem `Fire and Ice’?

 

2. Which two ideas about how the world will end have been mentioned in the poem? Which idea does the poet support more?

 

3. What does ‘fire’ and ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the world?

 

4. What do people think about the ending of the world? What does the poet think?

 

 

1. How does the poem depict the two contrasting ideas— ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’? Can hatred destroy us and the world?

 

Explain bringing out values which can make this world a better place to live in.