Fire and Ice & Dust of Snow

(Worksheet)

I) Section A: Extract-Based Questions

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:

i) 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.

i. What is the poet's opinion of the world in these lines? Answer in about 40
words. 2
ii. "tasted of desire" the poet is _______________
A. missing desire
B. talking about his experience of desiring something
C. afraid of tasting desire
D. never known desire
iii. Find out the rhyming words in the given extract. 1
iv. Choose the correct synonym of 'Desire’. 1
A. Assure
B. Wish
C. Plead
D. Entrap

ii) The way a crow

Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued

i) Select the appropriate option and complete the sentence, according to the
context. 1

The falling of dust of snow on the poet made him ----------------------

a. Angrier
b. Retrospect
c. Feel startled
d. Feel happier about the day

ii) The poet’s heart has under gone a change of mood because -----------------
----------------------. 1
iii) It is clear that Symbolism is the poetic device used for the crow and the
hemlock tree because ________________ 1
iv) What do the crow, snow, and tree symbolize? 1
v) What was the poet’s opinion about the day? 1

iii) 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.

i) The poem is a _________, put across by the poet. (1)

a) powerful warning
b) heart-felt apology
c) earnest appeal
d) vengeful threat

ii) The statement/ phrase which is self-contradictory or paradoxical in the

above lines is _______________________. (1)

iii. Pick the option that is NOT TRUE about the poet according to the
extract. (1)
The poet ___________________
a) Is inclined to believe that the world would most likely end with fire.
b) Has heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in all
likelihood.
c) Preaches love and kindness to combat the spread of hate among all.
d) Declares the power of ice to be as destructive as that of fire.

iv. Figure out two potential reasons for the destruction of the world stated
in the poem “fire and ice” and their implied meaning or vices discussed in
the poem. (2)

iv) “The way a crow

Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued”

i) What literary device is used in the line "The way a crow Shook down on
me"? (1)
A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Personification
D. Imagery

ii) The phrase "Has given my heart A change of mood" suggests that the
speaker experienced. (1)
A. Emotional numbness
B. Spiritual awakening
C. Sudden joy
D. Temporary relief

iii) What does the image of the hemlock tree convey in the poem? (1)
A. Danger and toxicity
B. Peace and serenity
C. Life and vitality
D. Decay and rot

iv) The poem's tone can be described as. (1)

A. Melancholic and introspective
B. Joyful and celebratory
C. Calm and contemplative
D. Angry and turbulent

v) What message does the poem convey through the speaker's encounter
with nature? (1)
A. Nature's beauty can transform our mood
B. Human connection is more important than nature
C. Life is fleeting, and unpredictable
D. Solitude is essential for happiness
v) 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.

i) What is the rhyme scheme of the above stanza? 1

A) abaabcbcb
B) ababbcbcb
C) abcdeabcb
D) abbacabba

ii) How does the speaker feel about the end of the world by ice? 1
A) Preferred over fire
B) Equally destructive as fire
C) destruction by ice won’t be as much harmful as fire
D) he is not much convinced with those who favour ice

iii) Read the statements given below and state whether True or False from
the options given below. 1
i) Fire stands for desire in the poem.
ii) Hatred is symbolised by ice
iii) Perish means be sufficient
A) TRUE TRUE TRUE
B) TRUE FALSE FALSE
C) TRUE FALSE TRUE
D) TRUE TRUE FALSE

iv) The word Destruction means the same as ….. 1

A) apocalyptic
B) construction
C) come to blows
D) mishap

v) The poet thinks that the reason for the destruction of the world is….. 1
A) both fire and ice, the natural forces, are powerful enough to destroy the
whole world
B) Human lust is the main reason for the ruination of the world
C) The hostile climate of the world would one day lead to human
destruction
D) Too much empathy towards fellow human beings is the main cause of
the destruction of the world.

II) Section B: Short Answer Questions

Answer the following questions in 30–40 words each:

i) “I think I know enough of hate.” What does the speaker know about
hate?
ii) “But if it had to perish twice’’ Why does the poet use ‘if’ in the above
quotation?
iii) What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem “Dust of snow” ? How
does it reflect?
iv) What is the underlying message for us in our hectic life with reference
to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’?
v) Why does the poet use such poetically uncommon bird and tree? What
does it reflect?

III) Section C: Long Answer Questions

Answer the following questions in 120–150 words each:

i) Both poems ‘Dust of Snow’ and ‘Fire and Ice’ use contrasting elements of
nature to convey their respective messages about life and human emotions
but they do it differently. Examine these differences.
ii) Positive attitude in life can make the world a better place to live in. Do
you agree or disagree with reference to the poem ‘Dust of Snow’? Express
your views bringing out the inherent values.
iii) Our attitude towards a situation evokes both negative and positive
response. Analyze this with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’ to bring
out the inherent valuable lessons.
iv) The poem ‘Fire and Ice’, carries with it very deep thematic ideas.
Elaborate on these darkest traits of humanity.