Fire and Ice

Class Notes:

Yesterday we talked about how writers and poets use opposites in their works to warm up we read a poem from Robert Frost, an american poet that in this very short poem brilliantly used opposites and contrast.

Fire and Ice

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.

Robert Frost, American Poet (1874-1963)

We also talked about the conceits that 17 C poets used in their work. A conceit is an elaborate figurative device of a fanciful kind, often using a metaphor, a simile or similar device. Poetry is so difficult to understand sometimes and knowing these conceits, I guess is really helpful.

Hyperbole and Oxymorons are conceits that modern poets also use these days, so I'll go a llittle depper into these two.

Oxymoron is the union fo opposites in one sentence i.e. it was a bittersweet experience, it was a living death,

From Romeo and Juliet we've got many examples, when talking about love:

Heavy lightness, serious vanity, cold fire, sick health, feather of lead.

The Hyperbole is an exageration in the description, it is also used in drama, but in drama it is called bombast and it refers to an exageration in gestures and style.

Here's an example of hyperbole:

His legs bestrid the ocean, his rear arm crested the world