WRITING A POETRY ANALYSIS
ALLEGORY
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Definition: A narrative or description that has a
second meaning beneath the surface
The underlying meaning has moral, social,
religious, or political significance, and characters
are often personifications of abstract ideas.
Allegory vs. Symbolism: Allegory puts less
emphasis on the images for their own sake and
more on the ulterior meanings.
FIRE AND ICE
BY ROBERT FROST
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Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor 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.
Free write for 5 minutes
about this poem.
SYMBOLISM AND ALLEGORY
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On the surface, the poem questions which
method of destruction would be more desirable to
end the world
Allegorical meaning of fire and ice:
Representative of the vices of humanity
Fire: could be greed or desire
Ice: could be bitterness or hatred
Metaphorical ending of he world is compared to
deciding which vice is worst
POETRY ANALYSIS PARAGRAPH
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Should follow the two-chunk model:
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TS Topic Sentence: A statement that expresses a
theme or meaning of the poem and/or an evaluation
of the author’s craft.
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Example: In “Fire and Ice,” Robert Frost uses allegorical
meanings of fire and ice to represent the vices of humanity.
CONCRETE DETAILS AND COMMENTARY
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CDs: Lines or phrases from the poem to support
your topic sentence.
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CM #1: Your explanation of how that line supports
your topic sentence.
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Example: For example, in line three he claims “from
what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor
fire.”
Example: Frost symbolizes the concept of
human desire with the physical concept of fire.
CM #2: Further analysis and explanation (dig
deeper into your interpretation of the CD)
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Example: Like a wild fire, desire can spread into greed
and a lust for wealth and power.
CD #2 AND CM
CD #2: In line five, he contemplates an
alternative apocalypse when he states, “I think I
know enough of hate to say that for destruction
ice is also great and would suffice.”
 CM #1: Here, the poet symbolically connects ice
with the “cold” feeling of hatred.
 CM #2: He asserts that while ice would do a
sufficient job of destruction, he “holds with fire,”
as the more likely end of the world.
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CONCLUDING SENTENCES (1-2_)
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CS: Tie it all together and revisit your TS
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Example: On the surface, he seems to be
contemplating the end of the physical world, but
upon a closer analysis of the poem’s symbols, an
allegorical meaning emerges. The reader discovers
that while the earth may indeed be destroyed by the
physical forces of fire ice, the forces of human nature,
specifically greed and hatred, will be the ultimate
death to humanity.
In “Fire and Ice,” Robert Frost uses allegorical meanings of
fire and ice to represent the vices of humanity. For example,
in line three he claims “from what I've tasted of desire, I hold
with those who favor fire.” Frost symbolizes the concept of
human desire with the physical concept of fire. Like a wildfire,
desire can spread into greed and a lust for wealth and power.
In line five, he contemplates an alternative apocalypse when
he states, “I think I know enough of hate to say that for
destruction ice is also great and would suffice.” Here, the poet
symbolically connects ice with the “cold” feeling of hatred. He
asserts that while ice would do a sufficient job of destruction,
he “holds with fire,” as the more likely end of the world. On
the surface, he seems to be contemplating the end of the
physical world, but upon a closer analysis of the poem’s
symbols, an allegorical meaning emerges. The reader
discovers that while the earth may indeed be destroyed by the
physical forces of fire ice, the forces of human nature,
specifically greed and hatred, will be the ultimate death to
humanity.
YOUR TURN