Word Choice

Some say the world will end in fire, 

Some say in ice."

These are the opening lines in Robert Frost's poem, "Fire and Ice." It might seem hard to write an essay about twelve words at the beginning of a poem, but there is actually a lot to look at because poets are so careful and intentional about their word choice.

First of all, the tone contrasts sharply with the subject matter. Obviously the end of the world is a heavy topic, but the wording doesn't fit that. It sounds like the narrator is just making a remark about the weather or some small thing like that. The tone is very offhanded. This is an interesting technique because it confuses readers and makes them think about what they're reading more. It almost offers a new perspective on the topic. This way of writing things also seems a bit sarcastic to me. It adds both weight and humor to the words, which is quite a skill.

The other thing about this opening is that it doesn't exactly sound like poetry. The tone is too casual. This is actually an effective technique because, while flowery symbolism can be ok, it's easy to get lost in some more poetic wording. Frost makes sure to get his point across so readers can understand it easily. The simple rhyme scheme throughout the rest of the poem helps with this as well. Casual language, especially when it has a meaning, is beautiful in its own way. 

Overall the poem, specifically the opening, is very relatable to readers because of the wording. This just proves how important word choice is to writers and poets. I like Frost's style in this poem because it is unique and creative.

Sections: Balance, Educational Essays, For School, Funny, Nonfiction, Writers