Get notes, line-by-line explanation, summary, questions and answers, critical analysis, word meanings, workbook solutions (Evergreen and Morning Star), extras, and pdf of the poem “A Considerable Speck” by Robert Frost, which is part of ICSE Class 10 English (Treasure Chest: A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories). However, the notes should only be treated as references, and changes should be made as per the needs of the students.
Summary
The speaker describes a tiny speck he notices moving across a sheet of paper he is writing on. At first, he thinks it is just a dust speck blown by his breath. On closer inspection, he realises it is actually a living mite, moving with its own inclinations. The mite pauses suspiciously at the speaker’s pen, then races wildly towards the still wet ink on the page. It pauses again, seeming to drink or smell the ink, before turning to flee in apparent disgust.
The speaker remarks on how the mite seems too tiny to have a full set of feet, yet it clearly does since it can walk and express a desire to live. The mite runs in terror and creeps cunningly across the page. It hesitates, as if trying to decide what to do.
It then cowers down in the middle of the sheet, accepting its fate at the hands of the speaker. The speaker reflects that he does not have the “tenderer-than-thou” collectivist mentality of the modern world that loves to destroy en masse. Since the mite has done no harm, he decides to let it be, hoping it will fall asleep on the page.
The speaker concludes by affirming that he recognises and appreciates the presence of “mind” wherever he encounters it, however humble the guise. He is glad for even the smallest display of mind.
Line-by-line explanation of the poem
A speck that would have been beneath my sight / On any but a paper sheet so white
The poet notices an extremely tiny speck on the bright white paper he is writing on. It is so tiny and diminutive in size that under normal circumstances, it would be invisible to him and completely beneath his ability to detect. The only reason he is able to discern the minuscule speck at all is because the paper providing the backdrop is such a stark, brilliant white. This high contrast between the bright white paper and the tiny dark speck is what allows it to barely be perceptible to him.
Set off across what I had written there. / And I had idly poised my pen in air / To stop it with a period of ink
As the poet is writing on this sheet of paper, he suddenly notices the tiny speck moving across the page, crawling over the words he had previously written down. At this moment, the poet’s pen was casually hovering in the air over the paper, as he had paused his writing briefly and left the pen temporarily suspended mid-air. He was just about to finish the sentence he had been writing by putting down a final period mark of ink as the terminating punctuation.
When something strange about it made me think, / This was no dust speck by my breathing blown, / But unmistakably a living mite
Just as the poet is about to set his pen back to paper, the movement of the tiny speck catches his attention. Some quality seems curious and strange about the way it is crawling across the page. This makes the poet stop and consider the speck more intentionally, sparking his thoughts about it. Upon closer observation and contemplation, the poet realizes this little speck is not just a random bit of dust that had wafted across the page carried by his own breathing as he wrote. Rather, he discerns that the speck is definitively a living mite traversing the page.
With inclinations it could call its own. / It paused as with suspicion of my pen, / And then came racing wildly on again
Moreover, as the poet watches the mite creep across the page, he perceives that it is not simply blowing aimlessly but moving with self-directed purpose, following its own inclinations. The tiny mite pauses momentarily in what seems like an apprehensive cessation to examine the poet’s pen still poised above. After this brief hesitation, the mite resumes scurrying rapidly, wildy racing across the page once more.
To where my manuscript was not yet dry; / Then paused again and either drank or smelt– / With loathing, for again it turned to fly.
The energetic mite scampers over to the part of the manuscript where the poet had recently written, and the ink remains damp and not yet dried. Reaching this moist ink, the mite pauses briefly again. During this second hesitation, it seems to either drink some of the liquid ink or smell and investigate its scent. However, the mite appears to despise and recoil from the ink’s flavor or odor. After examining the wet ink, it quickly whirls around once more to retreat away from the noxious substance.
Plainly with an intelligence I dealt. / It seemed too tiny to have room for feet, / Yet must have had a set of them complete
Through observing the mite’s self-motivated movements and interactions, the poet concludes he is clearly witnessing an intelligent creature acting intentionally, not just a mindlessly drifting speck. The mite is so unimaginably minute that it doesn’t seem possible it could contain space for a full set of feet within its microscopic form. Yet somehow within its diminutive body, the mite does indeed possess an entire functioning set of feet needed to traverse the page.
To express how much it didn’t want to die. / It ran with terror and with cunning crept. / It faltered: I could see it hesitate;
The way the mite actively darts about reveals a strong inborn will to survive and evade death. It runs with an urgency suggesting fear, but also moves with the careful cunning of an instinctual hunter. The poet sees the mite falter, hesitating in an uncertain, wavering manner, as if internally deliberating what to do next.
Then in the middle of the open sheet / Cower down in desperation to accept / Whatever I accorded it of fate.
After exhibiting that moment of hesitant indecision, the mite ends up frozen in the very center of the blank open page. It seems to crouch down low against the paper in desperate surrender, willing to accept whatever fate the poet now chooses to deal out.
I have none of the tenderer-than-thou / Collectivistic regimenting love / With which the modern world is being swept.
At this climactic moment, the poet declares he does not personally possess a sentimental, excessively gentle nature, nor any oppressive variety of “collectivist” love that tries to control everything according to specific regulations. He criticizes this totalitarian kind of “love” which he sees as currently overtaking the modern world.
But this poor microscopic item now! / Since it was nothing I knew evil of / I let it lie there till I hope it slept.
However, observing this particular helpless, tiny mite pitiably poised before him, and given that it has done no evident harm, the poet decides not to interfere with it. He chooses to leave the mite alone on the page undisturbed, hoping it will fall asleep there in peace.
I have a mind myself and recognize / Mind when I meet with it in any guise / No one can know how glad I am to find / On any sheet the least display of mind.
In conclusion, the poet declares that he himself possesses intelligence and imagination. He is able to perceive those same faculties of intellect and creativity when he encounters them manifesting through any living being. No one else can fully understand the happiness the poet feels when he discovers even the smallest exhibition of imagination or inventive thought on a written page.
Word meanings
speck: a tiny spot or fleck
idly: lazily, not busily
poised: held suspended; balanced
mite: a very small insect or arachnid
inclinations: natural tendencies or preferences to act in certain ways
manuscript: a handwritten document or text
loathing: intense dislike or disgust
cunning: skillful aptitude; craftiness
crept: moved stealthily and carefully
faltered: hesitated; wavered
hesitate: pause due to uncertainty
open sheet: blank paper space
cower: crouch down in fear or submission
desperation: hopeless resignation; despair
accorded: allowed; granted
fate: destiny or outcome
tenderer-than-thou: excessively gentle or sentimental
collectivistic: focused on group control rather than individualism
regimenting: strictly controlling according to rules
microscopic: extremely tiny; visible only by microscope
guise: form; manifestation
Evergreen workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following options contains the same literary device that appears in the following line: “….. On any but a paper sheet so white…..”
(a) Silver and blue as the mountain mist.
(b) He names the sky his own.
(c) The fir trees dark and high.
(d) Song and mother-croon of bird.
Answer: (a) Silver and blue as the mountain mist.
2. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
(i) He changes his mind when he notices something unusual about it.
(ii) The poet realises that the speck is a living mite with preferences of its own.
(iii) He intends to use the tip of his pen, dipped in ink, to erase the speck.
(iv) The poet notices a speck on the white paper he is writing on.
(a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
(b) (iv), (ii), (iii), (i)
(c) (ii), (iii), (iv), (i)
(d) (iv), (iii), (i), (ii)
Answer: (d) (iv), (iii), (i), (ii)
3. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements I and II.
1. Statement I : The poet concludes that the mite proves to be an intelligent creature
2. Statement II : The mite seems to dislike the ink as it quickly whirls around to fly away.
(a) Statement II is the cause for Statement I.
(b) Statement II is true, and Statement I is false.
(c) Statement I and Statement II are independent of each other.
(d) Statement I is true, and Statement II is false.
Answer: (a) Statement II is the cause for Statement I.
4. What is the central idea in Frost’s poem A Considerable Speck?
(a) The poet critiques society’s disregard for smaller aspects of life.
(b) The idea is that every living being, no matter how small, has its own perspective and intelligence.
(c) The struggle between man-made creations and the natural world.
(d) The insignificance of individual thoughts in the grand scheme of the universe.
Answer: (b) The idea is that every living being, no matter how small, has its own perspective and intelligence.
5. Select the correct option.
1. Assertion : The mite was not cowardly.
2. Reason: It did try to escape to safety.
(a) 1 is true but 2 is false.
(b) 1 is false but 2 is true.
(c) Both 1 & 2 are true.
(d) Both 1 & 2 are false.
Answer: (c) Both 1 & 2 are true.
6. Which of these statements is NOT true?
(a) The poet spares the mite as he feels it has a mind of its own.
(b) The poet spares the mite out of pity.
(c) The poet once thinks of killing the mite.
(d) The poet has no indiscriminate love for all living beings.
Answer: (b) The poet spares the mite out of pity.
7. Which of the following lines contains the literary device used in the title of the poem itself — “A Considerable Speck”.
(a) Parting is such sweet sorrow
(b) Her mouth was a fountain of delight.
(c) O, my love’s like a red, red rose
(d) The fair breeze blow, the white foam flew.
Answer: (a) Parting is such sweet sorrow
8. What is the tone of the poet while observing the mite ?
(a) ironic
(b) fearful
(c) amusing
(d) disgusting
Answer: (c) amusing
10. What do you imply by ‘collectivistic regimenting love’?
(a) love for the whole society or group
(b) forced love
(c) one-sided love
(d) indiscriminate love for all irrespective of one’s mental calibre.
Answer: (d) indiscriminate love for all irrespective of one’s mental calibre.
11. The title ‘A Considerable Speck’ is quite …………….. .
(a) amusing
(b) ironical
(c) surprising
(d) foolish
Answer: (b) ironical
12. What is this poem about?
(a) a mite on a white sheet of paper
(b) about the mind, its creativity and imagination
(c) collectivist ideology
(d) individuality
Answer: (b) about the mind, its creativity and imagination
13. When did the poet notice something running across his paper ?
(a) when he sneezed
(b) when he was writing
(c) when he was about to put a full stop to his writing finally
(d) when he left writing
Answer: (b) when he was writing
14. What did the poet like in the mite?
(a) its colour
(b) its being intelligent
(c) its being fearful
(d) its running in terror
Answer: (b) its being intelligent
15. How did the mite taste or smell the ink?
(a) with loathing
(b) with relish
(c) hesitatingly
(d) with a shudder
Answer: (a) with loathing
16. What did the poet imagine?
(a) that the mite was a proud creature
(b) that the mite did not want to die
(c) that the mite feared nothing
(d) that the mite was mischievous
Answer: (b) that the mite did not want to die
17. Why did the mite falter and hesitate?
(a) It was happy.
(b) It was terrified.
(c) It was cunning.
(d) It did not know what to do.
Answer: (b) It was terrified.
18. What did the mite finally do?
(a) It squatted.
(b) It bent down and moved backwards in fear.
(c) It sat still.
(d) It ran away to the edge of the sheet of paper.
Answer: (b) It bent down and moved backwards in fear.
19. Why did the poet not kill the mite ?
(a) because it had a mind of its own.
(b) because it was a lively creature.
(c) because it had no evil intention.
(d) because the poet took pity on it.
Answer: (a) because it had a mind of its own.
Comprehension Passages
PASSAGE-1
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
A speck that would have been beneath my sight
On any but a paper sheet so white
Set off across what I had written there.
And I had idly poised my pen in air
To stop it with a period of ink
(i) What is a speck? What does the expression ‘beneath my sight’ signify in the context? (Analysis)
Answer: A speck is described as a very small spot or a small piece of dirt. The expression ‘beneath my sight’ signifies that the speck was so inconsequential or tiny that the poet would not have even noticed it or thought it to be of any consequence under normal circumstances.
(ii) What had the poet been doing? What does the last line here tell you in this context? (Understanding and Analysis)
Answer: The poet had been writing, as indicated by the speck setting off across what he had written there on a sheet of paper. The last line, “To stop it with a period of ink,” tells us that the poet was just about to end the speck’s movement, or perhaps kill it, by using his pen as if to put a full stop.
(iii) What do you mean by ‘idly poised my pen’? (Analysis)
Answer: ‘Idly poised my pen’ means that the poet held his pen steady in the air, without any specific purpose or lazily, ready to act, in this case, to stop the speck with ink.
(iv) What did the poet observe about the mite later in the context? (Understanding)
Answer: Later, the poet began to notice the mite’s movements carefully. He observed that the mite raced towards the inked words on the sheet of paper, and it either drank or smelt the ink but did not relish it. It then ran down the paper in sheer terror and with cunning, paused, and bent down in desperation, seeming to accept whatever fate was accorded to it. He also wondered if it had feet.
(v) Why did the poet spare the mite ? (Analysis)
Answer: The poet spared the mite because he decided not to kill the tiny creature, thinking that the mite had its own mind. He refrained from killing it not because he believed in indiscriminate love for all human beings or creatures, but because the mite, being an intelligent creature, seemed to him to deserve an opportunity to live.
PASSAGE-2
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
(Board’s Practice Question)
When something strange about it made me think,
This was no dust speck by my breathing blown,
But unmistakably a living mite
With inclinations it could call its own.
(i) What was strange about the speck that attracted the speaker’s attention ? What was it in reality? Describe the speaker’s attitude towards the speck. (Recall and Understanding)
Answer: What was strange about the speck that attracted the speaker’s attention was that it was not a mere dust speck moved by his breath, but a living creature with its own inclinations. In reality, it was unmistakably a living mite. Initially, the speaker was about to stop it with ink, but the strangeness of its living nature made him think, and his attitude shifted to careful observation and eventually appreciation for its intelligence.
(ii) What made the speaker realise that the mite had a mind of its own as well as intelligence? Give three reasons to justify your answer. (Recall & Understanding)
Answer: The speaker realized the mite had a mind of its own and intelligence through its movements. Firstly, it paused as with suspicion of his pen, suggesting awareness. Secondly, it either drank or smelt the ink with loathing and then turned to fly, indicating preference and a reaction. Thirdly, it ran with terror and with cunning crept, and it faltered and hesitated, showing self-preservation and decision-making, which revealed to the poet that even the smallest insect could think on its own.
(iii) Analyse the speaker’s decision to let the mite live. What does this reveal about his character? (Analysis)
Answer: The speaker’s decision to let the mite live was based on his thinking that the mite had its own mind and, being an intelligent creature, deserved an opportunity to live. This reveals that the speaker is observant, reflective, and values intelligence and individuality. He is not swayed by a sentimental, collectivistic love but by a genuine recognition of mind in another being.
(iv) How would you evaluate the significance of the poem’s ending? Why is the discovery of a ‘display of mind’ so important to the speaker ? (Evaluate)
Answer: The significance of the poem’s ending lies in its abrupt conclusion with the idea of liveliness in a text being brought about by the use of wit and intelligence of the human mind, extending the appreciation of mind from the mite to creative works. The discovery of a ‘display of mind’ is so important to the speaker because the mind and its creative and imaginative powers are a major theme. He expresses appreciation for any ‘display’ of mind, as it is this use of intelligence that accords liveliness, whether in a creature or in a text, and he desires the imaginative use of mind and original thinking.
(v) What is the central theme of the poem ? How does the speaker’s action illustrate the theme of the poem ? If you have to give the poem a different title, what will it be? Give a reason for your answer. (Evaluate and Create)
Answer: The central theme of the poem is the importance of having one’s own mind or intelligence, and the mind’s creative and imaginative powers. The speaker’s action of sparing the mite illustrates this theme because he does so not out of indiscriminate love, but because the mite displays intelligence and seems to have a mind of its own, thereby deserving to live. A different title could be “Mind in Miniature” because the poem focuses on the significant display of intelligence by a tiny creature, highlighting the poet’s appreciation for mind in even its smallest forms.
PASSAGE-3
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
It paused as with suspicion of my pen,
And then came racing wildly on again
To where my manuscript was not yet dry;
Then paused again and either drank or smelt–
With loathing, for again it turned to fly.
(i) How does the poet describe the movements of the speck? (Analysis)
Answer: The poet describes the speck’s movements as initially pausing as if with suspicion of his pen. Then, it came racing wildly on again to where his manuscript was not yet dry. It paused again and either drank or smelt the ink with loathing, and because it did not relish it, it again turned to fly.
(ii) What is the significance of the word ‘suspicion’ in Line 1 here? (Analysis)
Answer: The significance of the word ‘suspicion’ in Line 1 is that it attributes a human-like awareness or caution to the mite. It suggests that the mite is not acting randomly but is perceiving the pen as a potential threat, thereby indicating a level of intelligence or consciousness.
(iii) How did the mite seem to drink or smell the ink? (Understanding)
Answer: The mite seemed to drink or smell the ink with loathing, as it did not relish it and consequently turned to fly away.
(iv) What is a manuscript ? How would it be dry? (Understanding)
Answer: A manuscript is a document written by hand or, in modern times, typed, as opposed to being printed. In this context, it is the paper on which the poet was writing. A manuscript would be dry when the liquid component of the ink used for writing has evaporated, leaving the pigment fixed on the paper.
(v) What did the mite do in terror? (Understanding and Analysis)
Answer: In terror, as it had no intention to face death, the mite ran down on the paper. Later in the poem, it is described as running with terror and with cunning creeping.
PASSAGE-4
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Plainly with an intelligence I dealt.
It seemed too tiny to have room for feet,
You must have had a set of them complete
To express how much it didn’t want to die.
It ran with terror and with cunning crept.
It faltered : I could see it hesitate.
(i) What do you mean by ‘an intelligence’ in Line 1? Why does the poet assert this? (Analysis)
Answer: By ‘an intelligence’ in Line 1, the poet means that he was dealing with a creature possessing a thinking faculty or the faculty of independent thinking. The poet asserts this because of the mite’s observed behaviors, such as its suspicion, its reaction to the ink, its clear desire not to die expressed through its movements, its running with terror, its cunning creeping, and its hesitation, all of which suggested purpose and awareness rather than random actions.
(ii) What was it that refuted the poet’s thinking that the mite had ‘no room for feet’? (Analysis)
Answer: The mite’s ability to move purposefully, to run and creep in its efforts to express how much it didn’t want to die, refuted the poet’s thinking that it had ‘no room for feet’. These actions demonstrated that it must have had a complete set of them, despite its tiny size.
(iii) ‘It ran with terror and with cunning crept’. Explain. (Analysis)
Answer: The line ‘It ran with terror and with cunning crept’ explains the mite’s desperate and intelligent attempts to escape. “Ran with terror” indicates its panicked and fearful flight from perceived danger. “With cunning crept” suggests a more deliberate, stealthy, and clever movement, possibly to avoid detection or find a safe path, showcasing a combination of instinctual fear and calculated effort to survive.
(iv) What is it that the poet satirizes later in the context? Why? (Understanding and Analysis)
Answer: Later in the context, the poet satirizes the “tenderer-than-thou Collectivistic regimenting love” with which the modern world is being swept. This is an assault on the principle of collectivism where the individual mind is of least importance. He also satirizes those who have no mind of their own and are guided by others. He does this because he values individual mind, intelligence, imagination, and creativity, believing that even a small mite with intelligence is superior to a person bereft of these qualities. His satire is also directed against a society that makes no distinction between individuals and against modern man’s destructive tendencies and inability to use his mind productively.
(v) What does the poet appreciate in others? (Understanding)
Answer: The poet appreciates mind or intelligence when he meets with it in any guise. He is glad to find even the least display of mind. He also values individual thinking, imagination, and creativity.
PASSAGE-5
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Then in the middle of the open sheet
Cower down in desperation to accept
Whatever I accorded it of fate.
I have none of the tenderer-than-thou
Collectivistic regimenting love
With which the modern world is being swept.
But this poor microscopic item now!
Since it was nothing I knew evil of
I let it lie there till I hope it slept.
(i) What position did the mite take eventually? In what state was it? (Understanding)
Answer: Eventually, the mite cowered down in the middle of the open sheet. It was in a state of desperation, seemingly ready to accept whatever fate the poet accorded it.
(ii) Explain ‘Collectivistic regimenting love’? (Analysis)
Answer: ‘Collectivistic regimenting love’ refers to a type of affection or acceptance that is concerned with a group, class, or society rather than individuals, and is imposed strictly from outside, for instance, by the state or society. It implies an indiscriminate acceptance of all human beings irrespective of their mental calibre or intelligence, often with a sense of moral superiority, and lacks genuine individual assessment or value for individual mind.
(iii) Which ideology is implicitly criticised here and why ? (Analysis)
Answer: The ideology implicitly criticized here is collectivism. This is the principle that the ‘individual’ mind is of least importance before the ‘collective’ mind, where what matters is not an individual but family, society, or nation. It is criticized because the poet values individual thinking, imagination, and creativity, and he seems to satirize those who lack a mind of their own and are merely guided by others, believing that a creature with intelligence is superior to a human without it.
(iv) What made the poet let the mite ‘lie there till …. it slept’? (Understanding and Analysis)
Answer: The poet let the mite ‘lie there till …. it slept’ because, as he states, it was nothing he knew evil of, meaning the mite had no evil intention against him. More significantly, as the mite seemed to have a mind of its own and was an intelligent creature, he decided not to kill it, believing it deserved an opportunity to live. He therefore allowed it to lie on the paper until he hoped it slept.
(v) Why does the poet choose a ‘considerable speck’ to express his appreciation of the mind, its imagination and creativity? (Analysis and Evaluation)
Answer: The poet chooses a ‘considerable speck’ to express his appreciation of the mind, its imagination, and creativity because the term itself is an oxymoron, highlighting the contrast. A speck is typically insignificant, so by calling it “considerable,” Frost emphasizes that even the smallest, most overlooked entity can display remarkable intelligence and a will to live, thereby becoming significant. This underscores his point that mind and intelligence are valuable wherever found, making the mite’s display of these qualities all the more striking and worthy of consideration, especially as a contrast to humans who might lack individual thought.
PASSAGE-6
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
I have a mind myself and recognize
Mind when I meet with it in any guise
No one can know how glad I am to find
On any sheet the least display of mind.
(i) In which mood is the poet here ? (Analysis)
Answer: The poet here is in a mood of gladness, appreciation, and profound satisfaction upon encountering any evidence of intelligence or “mind.”
(ii) What quality in a writing appeals to the poet ? (Understanding and Analysis)
Answer: The quality in a writing that appeals to the poet is any ‘display’ of mind. He desires the imaginative use of mind, reality, and original thinking in a text, as it is this use or display of intelligence that accords liveliness to it, rather than regimented thoughts and feelings.
(iii) Do you think the idea contained in this last stanza has relevance in the context? What is it? (Analysis and Evaluation)
Answer: Yes, the idea contained in this last stanza has immense relevance in the context. The idea is the poet’s deep appreciation for any manifestation of intelligence or “mind,” stating that he, having a mind himself, recognizes and is overjoyed to find even the “least display of mind” in any form or on any “sheet.” This directly connects to his encounter with the mite, whose actions on his sheet of paper were a “display of mind” that he valued, leading him to spare it. It also extends this appreciation to the qualities desired in writing, suggesting that intelligence and wit bring liveliness to a text.
(iv) In what way did the poet identify himself with the mite? (Analysis)
Answer: The poet identified himself with the mite through their shared possession of “mind.” He states, “I have a mind myself and recognize / Mind when I meet with it in any guise.” By recognizing “mind” in the mite’s actions and its will to live, he acknowledges a fundamental commonality between himself as a thinking human and the mite as a thinking creature, however small.
(v) What does the poet mean by “display of mind” ? (Analysis)
Answer: By “display of mind,” the poet means a show of intelligence. In the context of the mite, this refers to its evidence of thinking, consciousness, will, suspicion, fear, cunning, hesitation, and its desire to live. When applied to “any sheet,” which can refer to a written page, it signifies the imaginative use of mind, originality, and intelligent thought.
Morning Star/Beeta workbook answers/solutions
Multiiple Choice Questions II
1. What made the speaker notice the speck that would have been beneath his sight?
A. Its presence on a white sheet of paper
B. Its shape like a full-stop
C. Its dark colour
D. None of the above
Answer: A. Its presence on a white sheet of paper
2. What was the strange thing that made the speaker think about the speck?
A. The speck was a living mite
B. The speck was clearly visible to him
C. The speck was a figment of his imagination
D. The speck was a fluff of dust
Answer: A. The speck was a living mite
3. What was ‘it’ that the speaker said that living mite ‘could call its own’?
A. Movements
B. Decisions
C. Fears
D. Feelings
Answer: D. Feelings
4. What was the mite’s ‘suspicion’?
A. Of being thrown away from the paper
B. Of being blown away by the speaker’s breath
C. Of getting killed by the speaker’s pen
D. All of the above
Answer: C. Of getting killed by the speaker’s pen
5. What did the mite drink or smell?
A. Ink
B. Water
C. Sweat
D. None of the above
Answer: A. Ink
6. Which figure of speech is used in the phrase ‘with cunning crept’?
A. Assonance
B. Simile
C. Metonymy
D. Alliteration
Answer: D. Alliteration
7. Which poetic device is used in the line given below?
“With loathing, for again it turned to fly.”
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Simile
D. Oxymoron
Answer: B. Personification
8. The speaker decided not to kill the mite because of which of its qualities?
A. Small size
B. Fear of the speaker
C. Intelligence
D. All of the above
Answer: C. Intelligence
9. Which characteristic trait of the speaker is revealed in the line uttered by him:
“Whatever I accorded it of fate.”
A. Arrogance
B. Annoyance
C. Superiority
D. None of the above
Answer: C. Superiority
10. Which figure of speech is used in the line given below?
“I have none of the tenderer-than-thou.”
A. Personification
B. Metaphor
C. Simile
D. Alliteration
Answer: B. Metaphor
11. According to the speaker, the modern world is swept by which of the following?
A. Individualism
B. Collectivism
C. Selfishness
D. None of the above
Answer: B. Collectivism
12. Why did the poet allow the mite to doze off instead of killing it?
A. It was too tired and wanted to take rest
B. He believed in collectivistic ideology
C. It did not intend any harm to him
D. None of the above
Answer: C. It did not intend any harm to him
13. Which of the following poetic devices is used in the title of the poem?
A. Paradox
B. Metaphor
C. Personification
D. Oxymoron
Answer: D. Oxymoron
14. What is the central theme of the poem?
A. Mind, its creativity and imagination
B. Collectivistic ideology
C. Superiority of man
D. None of the above
Answer: A. Mind, its creativity and imagination
15. Which of the following lines contains the same literary device as the one in the title of the poem, ‘A Considerable Speck’?
A. The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn
B. His honour rooted in dishonour stood
And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.
C. Good we must love and must hate ill,
For ill is ill and good good still.
D. Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb
The gradient’s against her, but she’s on time.
Answer: B. His honour rooted in dishonour stood
And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.
Context questions and answers
Extract 1
A speck that would have been beneath my sight
On any but a paper sheet so white
Set off across what I had written there.
And I had idly poised my pen in air
To stop it with a period of ink
When something strange about it made me think,
This was no dust speck by my breathing blown,
But unmistakably a living mite
With inclinations it could call its own.
(i) When did the speaker notice ‘a speck’? Why did he feel that it would have been beneath his sight?
Answer: The speaker noticed the speck as it moved across his writing. He felt that it would have been beneath his sight because it was so tiny that he wouldn’t have noticed it had it not been on a white sheet of paper.
(ii) Why did the speaker idly poise his pen in the air?
Answer: The speaker idly poised his pen in the air to stop the speck with a period of ink, as though preparing to end its movement.
(iii) What was ‘strange’ about it that attracted the speaker’s attention? What was the speck in reality?
Answer: The strange thing that attracted the speaker’s attention was that the speck did not behave like an inanimate piece of dust; it moved with a purpose. In reality, the speck was a living mite.
(iv) Explain the meaning of the last line of this extract.
Answer: The last line suggests that the mite, although small, was a living creature with its own will and inclinations, moving according to its own desires, not at the mercy of the speaker’s actions.
(v) Explain briefly how this extract justifies the title of the poem.
Answer: This extract justifies the title “A Considerable Speck” by showing how something as small as a mite can have considerable significance when viewed as a living creature with its own will, deserving attention and even respect.
Extract 2
Plainly with an intelligence I dealt.
It seemed too tiny to have room for feet,
Yet must have had a set of them complete
To express how much it didn’t want to die.
It ran with terror and with cunning crept.
It faltered: I could see it hesitate;
Then in the middle of the open sheet
Cower down in desperation to accept
Whatever I accorded it of fate.
(i) Which characteristic trait of the mite is the speaker talking about in the first line of this extract? Why?
Answer: The speaker is referring to the mite’s intelligence. He concludes this because the mite exhibited purposeful behaviour, indicating that it was trying to avoid death.
(ii) Why did the speaker at first think that the mite did not have feet? What made him change his stance at the very next moment?
Answer: The speaker initially thought the mite didn’t have feet because it was so tiny. However, he changed his mind when he saw the mite move, revealing that it must have feet to run and express its will to survive.
(iii) What made the speaker realise that it didn’t want to die?
Answer: The speaker realised that the mite didn’t want to die when he observed its behaviour—running in terror and then creeping cunningly, showing clear signs of self-preservation.
(iv) What did ‘It’ do in the middle of the sheet of paper? Why?
Answer: In the middle of the sheet, the mite cowered down in desperation as if accepting its fate. This was likely because it realised it could not escape.
(v) Explain the attitude of the speaker towards the mite in this extract.
Answer: The speaker’s attitude towards the mite is one of fascination and empathy. He recognises the mite’s desperate struggle for survival and hesitates to harm it.
Extract 3
I have none of the tenderer-than-thou
Collectivistic regimenting love
With which the modern world is being swept.
But this poor microscopic item now!
Since it was nothing I knew evil of
I let it lie there till I hope it slept.
(i) Which trait is the speaker referring to which he says he does not have? What is the result of lacking this trait?
Answer: The speaker refers to a collectivist form of love, one that seeks to manage and regiment the world. The result of lacking this trait is that he prefers to act with individual judgement rather than follow societal trends.
(ii) Explain with reference to context the meaning of the phrase ‘Collectivistic regimenting love’.
Answer: ‘Collectivistic regimenting love’ refers to a type of love that seeks to control or manage others under the guise of caring, reflecting a social movement of the time where people imposed their collective will on others.
(iii) To whom did the speaker refer to as ‘poor microscopic item’? Why? What does it suggest about the speaker?
Answer: The speaker refers to the mite as the ‘poor microscopic item.’ This suggests that the speaker, despite not being overly sentimental, acknowledges the mite’s smallness and vulnerability, showing a degree of compassion.
(iv) Why did the speaker let it lie there? Do you think the speaker was right in doing so? Give reason to support your answer.
Answer: The speaker let the mite lie there because he didn’t view it as harmful or evil. He was right to do so, as his decision reflects a respect for life, no matter how small, and suggests a thoughtful and non-violent disposition.
(v) Explain how this extract reflects on the theme of the poem.
Answer: This extract reflects on the theme of the poem by highlighting the speaker’s ethical consideration for even the smallest of life forms. It shows how even a tiny mite can provoke deep moral reflection, emphasising the value of life.
Extract 4
I have a mind myself and recognize
Mind when I meet with it in any guise
No one can know how glad I am to find
On any sheet the least display of mind.
(i) What does the speaker want to convey by saying that he has a mind? Which characteristic trait of the speaker is conveyed by this assertion?
Answer: The speaker conveys that, as a thinking being, he is capable of recognising intelligence in others. This shows his reflective and perceptive nature, appreciating intellect in all forms.
(ii) Where does the speaker find ‘the mind’? In which ‘guise’ does he find it? How does he recognise it?
Answer: The speaker finds ‘the mind’ in the mite, despite its minuscule size. He recognises it through the mite’s behaviour, which suggests intelligence and the will to survive.
(iii) How does the speaker reward it for displaying its mind? Why does the speaker not punish it for trespassing his sheet of paper?
Answer: The speaker rewards the mite by sparing its life. He does not punish it for trespassing because he appreciates the display of intellect and values the life it represents.
(iv) What is the reason for the speaker’s feeling of gladness? Give the symbolic meaning of the line—‘On any sheet the least display of mind’.
Answer: The speaker feels glad because he encounters intelligence, even in a tiny creature like the mite. Symbolically, this line suggests that any sign of intelligence, no matter how small, is a source of joy and connection for the speaker.
(v) What is the central theme of this poem? How is an inconsequential mite used to justify the theme of the poem?
Answer: The central theme of the poem is the value of life and intelligence, regardless of size or significance. The inconsequential mite is used to illustrate how even the smallest creature can evoke thoughts about existence, intellect, and morality.
Extract 5
It paused as with suspicion of my pen,
And then came racing wildly on again
To where my manuscript was not yet dry;
Then paused again and either drank or smelt—
With loathing, for again it turned to fly.
(i) What is referred to by ‘It’ that paused with suspicion? Why did it do so?
Answer: ‘It’ refers to the mite. It paused with suspicion of the pen because it sensed danger from the speaker’s potential action.
(ii) Why did it start racing wildly after a pause? Why was the manuscript not yet dry?
Answer: It started racing wildly because it likely sensed imminent danger. The manuscript was not yet dry because the speaker had just been writing on it.
(iii) What did ‘It’ drink or smell with loathing? Why? What did it do after that?
Answer: The mite either drank or smelt the ink, which it found distasteful or harmful, and then quickly turned to flee.
(iv) Explain briefly, the use of imagery in the extract.
Answer: The imagery in this extract vividly describes the movements of the mite, portraying it as a creature with survival instincts. Words like “paused,” “racing wildly,” and “turned to fly” create a dynamic and tense atmosphere.
(v) How does the speaker deal with the mite? What makes him do so? How does the speaker’s action justify the theme of the poem.
Answer: The speaker ultimately spares the mite’s life, recognising its intelligence and right to live. His action supports the theme that all life, no matter how small, has value and deserves consideration.
Extras/additional
Questions and answers
Extract 1
A speck that would have been beneath my sight
On any but a paper sheet so white
Set off across what I had written there.
And I had idly poised my pen in air
To stop it with a period of ink
When something strange about it made me think
This was no dust speck by my breathing blown
But unmistakably a living mite
With inclinations it could call its own.
(i) Why does the speaker notice the speck?
Answer: The speaker notices the speck because it moves across the white paper where the speaker has been writing. Its movement captures attention, prompting a closer look.
(ii) What initially makes the speaker think the speck is not ordinary dust?
Answer: The speaker notices something unusual about the speck, specifically its movement and apparent self-directed behavior, which suggests it is not a mere dust particle but a living creature.
(iii) What was the speaker’s initial intention with the pen?
Answer: The speaker had idly held the pen in the air, intending to stop the speck with a dot of ink, but paused upon realizing it might be a living creature.
(iv) How does the description of the speck hint at its intelligence?
Answer: The speck’s behavior, such as its pauses, wild racing, and seeming suspicion of the pen, suggests it has a sense of awareness or intelligence, despite its tiny size.
(v) How does the speaker react to the discovery of the speck’s nature?
Answer: The speaker becomes intrigued by the speck, recognizing it as a living being with its own will, which leads to a more thoughtful consideration rather than simply eliminating it.
Extract 5
I have a mind myself and recognize
Mind when I meet with it in any guise
No one can know how glad I am to find
On any sheet the least display of mind.
(i) How does the speaker relate to the speck in terms of intellect?
Answer: The speaker sees a parallel between their own mind and the speck’s actions, recognizing intelligence in even the smallest of forms and appreciating its presence.
(ii) What significance does the speaker attach to finding “mind” on a sheet?
Answer: The speaker values any evidence of thought or intelligence, whether in writing or in a living creature like the speck, as it provides a sense of connection and validation of life.
(iii) Why is the speaker “glad” to find a display of mind?
Answer: The speaker is glad because the display of intelligence, even in the smallest creature, affirms the presence of life and thought, something they deeply respect and cherish.
(iv) What does the phrase “in any guise” suggest about the speaker’s perception of intelligence?
Answer: The phrase indicates that the speaker values intelligence in all forms, no matter how unexpected or insignificant the source may seem, such as a tiny speck on paper.
(v) How does this final reflection tie into the overall theme of the poem?
Answer: The final reflection reinforces the theme of recognizing and respecting intelligence and life, regardless of size, and the speaker’s delight in finding these qualities in even the most inconspicuous places.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does the poet first notice moving across his paper?
A. An ant B. A dust speck C. A gnat D. A mite
Answer: D. A mite
20. What does the poet appreciate about the speck?
A. Its fragility B. Its perseverance C. Its brevity D. Its vitality
Answer: B. Its perseverance
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