What Does Fire Symbolize In Literature

"I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate to know that for destruction ice is also great." Robert Frost. This is a sentence using the archetype; a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology; fire and ice that is used lots of times throughout literature. Throughout different uses of fire and ice, the good and bad associations with each one, will be explained. There will also be many examples throughout to help link each one to a real life example. Fire is often related to passion. Red is energizing, it excites the emotions and motivates to take action; and red is associated with fire. An example of this is in Best Laid Plans (chapter three) the main character is in a situation of meeting the one she loves and the book says this "At first she was too stunned to respond, and then passion hit her like the fiery breath of a dragon." The example is showing that the passion is strong and fast like fire or the fiery breath of a dragon which brings out the intensity of passion and love to create a move vivid scene. Fire and passion are used together lots of times and how passion is symbolic of fire, it's fiery connection is what makes it so.

An excellent example of this is in the book Night by Elie Wiesel in chapter two where when the train of Jews are approaching a concentration camp and Mrs Schächter says "Jews, listen to me,’ she cried. ‘I see the fire! I see flames, huge flames." This is great example because in this scene they all see a place of death, where she is certain she will die here. A sad scene bad a powerful one that represents the connection between fire and death and sets a mood of gloom and fear of death whenever at this camp. So, fire can be death/danger in different types of