Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Critical Approaches to Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

I have always loved Robert Frost's work.  I find this one especially important today because of the popularity of "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George Martin.  I think there is an interesting parallel between the two and my liking to the latter has renewed my interest in the former.   I am hoping one of these theories will help me connect the two. 


  • Archetypal: I went over how Frost used fire and ice as symbolism vs. what else they could be symbolizing.  Fire is used as desire, destruction, and hatred.  The world burns because of it.  Ice is also hatred, but can see stubbornness and also calm.  Either way the world is going to end - it's just if it will be fire or ice.  
  • Source Study: He uses the poem as an analysis as the life that one lives - so the world is individual.  HE wrote this poem as a self reflection of his own work.  Is he going to die in fire, having obsession rule over him or ice and have hatred be his demise? 
  • Biographical: Frost left Harvard before finishing his degree.  Then he moved to New Hampshire with his family.  He wrote a lot during this time, but he lost two children.  Since his poem is about him viewing himself as dying in fire or ice, I think this connects well with his familial situation because he was worried that his career and schooling would take time away from what is important, like his family.   
  • New Historicism: It was published in 1920.  This was a tumultuous time in America, after thee war, during the roaring 20s and right before even more arduous events.  Frost was looking at people and their life choices, like he was worried about their souls.  It was his call to people to not let their desires or obsessions cloud what is really important.  

2 comments:

  1. I think the Biographical approach is really interesting, to connect the two I wonder if you could research the biography of the George Martin?

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  2. The source study is really cool, and leaves the interpretation open for some self-reflection. Could the ice perhaps then be linked to jealousy or envy of his own work and that of others? Can the poem be read as more of a "morality" poem, encouraging the readers to not give in to extreme passions?

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