Do you find it challenging to solve Extract based MCQs based on poems? In this post, we’ll explore Robert Frost’s famous poem ‘Fire and Ice’ and provide you with some helpful MCQs to improve your understanding and test-taking skills. So, start and enjoy free learning here 😊👍.
Click the below links to see notes & explanation based on this poem “Fire and Ice”.
- Poem Summary, Theme & Message
- Stanza and Line by Line Explanation
- Poetic Devices
- Q/Ans.
- Extract Based MCQs
- Extra Question Answers
I. Read the following poem ‘Fire and Ice’ 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:
1. What is the poetic device used in the line “Some say the world will end in fire”?
a) Metaphor
b) Simile
c) Personification
d) Hyperbole
2. What poetic device is used in the line “From what I’ve tasted of desire”?
a) Personification
b) Metaphor
c) Alliteration
d) Imagery
3. What is the speaker’s preference for the end of the world?
a) Ice
b) Fire
c) Love
d) None of the above
4. What is the poetic device used in the line “I think I know enough of hate”?
a) Metaphor
b) Personification
c) Alliteration
d) Hyperbole
5. What is the meaning of the word “suffice” in the context of the poem?
a) To be enough or adequate
b) To be insufficient or lacking
c) To be overly abundant
d) To be unnecessary
6. What is the overall mood of the poem?
a) Optimistic
b) Pessimistic
c) Hopeful
d) Uncertain
7. What poetic device is used in the repetition of the phrase “Some say”?
a) Repetition
b) Alliteration
c) Metaphor
d) Personification
8. What does the speaker mean when they say “if it had to perish twice”?
a) If the world were to end twice
b) If they had to experience destruction twice
c) If they had to choose between fire and ice twice
d) None of the above
9. What is the poetic device used in the line “To say that for destruction ice”?
a) Metaphor
b) Personification
c) Alliteration
d) Imagery
10. What is the meaning of the word “favour” in the context of the poem?
a) To like or prefer
b) To dislike or avoid
c) To support or encourage
d) To criticize or condemn
ANSWERS:
- a) Metaphor
- b) Metaphor
- b) Fire
- b) Personification
- a) To be enough or adequate
- b) Pessimistic
- a) Repetition
- a) If the world were to end twice
- a) Metaphor
- a) To like or prefer
Explanation of Answers:
- a) Metaphor. The line “Some say the world will end in fire” is a metaphor because it is comparing the end of the world to the element of fire.
- b) Metaphor. The line “From what I’ve tasted of desire” is a metaphor because the speaker is using the sense of taste to describe their experience with desire.
- b) Fire. The speaker says “I hold with those who favour fire,” indicating that they prefer the world to end in fire.
- b) Personification. The speaker personifies hate by saying “I think I know enough of hate,” suggesting that hate is a person with whom the speaker has become acquainted.
- a) To be enough or adequate. In the context of the poem, “suffice” means that ice would be sufficient or enough to cause destruction if the world had to end in that way.
- b) Pessimistic. The poem is discussing the end of the world and the destructive forces that could bring about that end, which creates a sense of pessimism.
- a) Repetition. The phrase “Some say” is repeated in the poem to emphasize the different beliefs about how the world will end.
- a) If the world were to end twice. The phrase “if it had to perish twice” suggests that the speaker is imagining a scenario in which the world ends twice.
- a) Metaphor. The line “To say that for destruction ice” is a metaphor because the speaker is using the element of ice to represent destruction.
- a) To like or prefer. In the context of the poem, “favour” means that the speaker likes or prefers the idea of the world ending in fire.
II. Read the following extract from the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ 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.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the central theme of the stanza?
a) The end of the world
b) The different beliefs about the end of the world
c) The power of desire
d) The importance of personal preference
2. What do the lines “Some say the world will end in fire/ Some say in ice” suggest?
a) The world will end soon
b) There are different opinions about how the world will end
c) The world will end in a natural disaster
d) The world will end because of human actions
3. According to the speaker in the stanza, why does he hold with those who favor fire?
a) Because he thinks fire is more destructive than ice
b) Because he has a personal preference for fire
c) Because he has experienced desire and understands its destructive power
d) Because he believes that fire is a symbol of passion and creativity
4. Which of the following is an example of critical thinking when analysing this stanza?
a) Considering the historical context of the poem
b) Identifying the literary devices used in the stanza
c) Exploring the possible meanings of the word “desire”
d) All of the above
5. How does the speaker’s personal experience relate to his beliefs about the end of the world?
a) The speaker’s experience of desire has led him to believe that the world will end in fire
b) The speaker’s experience of desire has led him to believe that the world will end in ice
c) The speaker’s experience of desire is unrelated to his beliefs about the end of the world
d) The speaker’s experience of desire has made him undecided about how the world will end
ANSWERS:
- b) The different beliefs about the end of the world
- b) There are different opinions about how the world will end
- c) Because he has experienced desire and understands its destructive power
- d) All of the above
- a) The speaker’s experience of desire has led him to believe that the world will end in fire.
Explanation of Answers:
- The central theme of the stanza is the different beliefs about the end of the world, as it talks about two contrasting ideas about how the world will end.
- The lines “Some say the world will end in fire/ Some say in ice” suggest that there are different opinions about how the world will end.
- The speaker in the stanza holds with those who favour fire because he has experienced desire and understands its destructive power. This suggests that he sees fire as a symbol of passion and destruction, and believes that desire will lead to the world’s end through a fiery destruction.
- All of the above are examples of critical thinking when analysing the stanza. Considering the historical context of the poem, identifying the literary devices used, and exploring the possible meanings of the word “desire” are all important components of critical thinking.
- The speaker’s experience of desire has led him to believe that the world will end in fire. He sees desire as a powerful force that can lead to destruction, and he believes that this destruction will manifest itself in the form of a fiery end to the world.
III. Read the following extract from the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ and answer the questions that follow.
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:
1. What does the speaker mean by “if it had to perish twice” in the given stanza?
a) If something is destroyed and then rebuilt again
b) If something is destroyed and then destroyed again
c) If something is destroyed and then abandoned
d) If something is destroyed and then ignored
2. What is the speaker’s attitude towards hate in the given stanza?
a) Positive
b) Negative
c) Ambivalent
d) Neutral
3. What does the speaker suggest about destruction through ice?
a) It is the best way to destroy something
b) It is the worst way to destroy something
c) It is a sufficient way to destroy something
d) It is an insufficient way to destroy something
4. How does the speaker’s use of the word “suffice” in the final line contribute to the overall meaning of the stanza?
a) It emphasizes the speaker’s indifference towards destruction
b) It suggests that the speaker believes destruction is necessary
c) It implies that the speaker believes destruction can be justified
d) It underscores the speaker’s bleak outlook on the world
5. What is the speaker’s overall message in the given stanza?
a) Destruction is necessary for progress
b) Hate is a powerful force
c) Ice is a destructive force
d) Destruction can come in many forms
6. What is the tone of the speaker in this stanza?
a) Angry
b) Indifferent
c) Sad
d) Thoughtful
7. What is the author’s attitude towards destruction?
a) Neutral
b) Negative
c) Positive
d) Indifferent
ANSWERS:
- b) If something is destroyed and then destroyed again
- a) Positive
- c) It is a sufficient way to destroy something
- d) It underscores the speaker’s bleak outlook on the world
- d) Destruction can come in many forms
- d) Thoughtful
- b) Negative
Explanation of Answers:
- The phrase “if it had to perish twice” suggests that something has been destroyed once already, and the speaker is contemplating what would happen if it were destroyed again.
- The speaker’s statement that they “know enough of hate” suggests a positive attitude towards hate.
- The speaker suggests that destruction through ice would be sufficient, or enough, to accomplish the task of destruction.
- The word “suffice” means “to be enough or adequate,” and the fact that the speaker uses it to describe destruction suggests that they view destruction as a bleak but necessary aspect of life.
- The speaker’s message in the given stanza is that destruction can come in many forms and that they are familiar with hate as a means of destruction.
- The tone of the speaker in this stanza is thoughtful. The speaker is reflecting on their knowledge of hate and its relationship to destruction. There is no indication of anger, indifference, or sadness in the stanza.
- The author’s attitude towards destruction is negative. The speaker acknowledges the power of destruction and how it can be caused by hate, but doesn’t view it in a positive light.