Sintaks: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia
Vol. 6 No. 2 (2026)

Binary Oppositions and the Representation of Human Destruction in Robert Frost’s Fire and Ice: A Structuralist Analysis

Saskya Dwi Anantya (Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Bielvasya Dzikra Muda Siregar (Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Ceria Rista Natasya Purba (Universitas Sumatera Utara)
T. Thyraya Zein (Universitas Sumatera Utara)
Puan Maharani (Universitas Sumatera Utara)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Aug 2026

Abstract

Robert Frost’s “Fire and Ice” portrays the destructive potential of human emotions through its concise poetic structure and the symbolic opposition between fire and ice. This study aims to examine the meaning of Robert Frost’s “Fire and Ice” through a structuralist approach, with particular emphasis on how the poem’s intrinsic elements construct representations of human emotions and destruction. Employing a qualitative descriptive method, the study focuses on intrinsic elements including theme, diction, symbolism, imagery, and rhyme. Data were collected through close reading and textual analysis, while the analytical procedure involved identifying the poem’s intrinsic elements, examining their interrelationships, and interpreting how they collectively construct its meaning. The findings reveal that the poem is structured around the opposition between “fire,” which symbolizes passion, and “ice,” which symbolizes hatred, with both forces possessing an equally destructive potential. Despite its brevity, the poem employs a tightly organized structure that intensifies the depth and complexity of its meaning. The novelty of this study lies in demonstrating, through an integrated structural analysis of the poem’s intrinsic elements, that the opposition between fire and ice functions not merely as an apocalyptic image but as a structural representation of destructive human emotions. The poem consequently extends beyond the theme of apocalypse to illustrate how human emotions themselves can become powerful sources of destruction.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

SIN

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Sintaks: Jurnal Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia is a peer-reviewed journal by Medan Resource Center. This journal accepts articles related to the Indonesian language; literature; language education; Classroom Action Research; literature review; learning material and media development; and learning ...