Summary in English
Once
the narrator was writing on a white sheet of paper when a tiny dust particle
flew over the sheet. Initially, he considered that it had blown off due to his
breath but on closer look, he realized that the particle was running here and
there and that it was a tiny insect. The insect could think and was trying to
save itself. It ran and at times stopped due to the fear of the narrator’s pen.
Then it reached the area where the narrator had written and the ink was still
wet. The insect smelt or drank the ink. It disliked it because it turned and
tried to fly away.
The
tiny being tried various ways to save itself, its confidence reduced when it
realized that it could not save itself. The creature was too small to have feet
but it did have a pair with which it ran wildly to save itself. Finally, it
bowed to the narrator’s will and surrendered itself in the middle of the sheet.
The
narrator was not an animal lover, the type of people who fought for animal
rights and showed that they had a lot of love for these beings. He simply felt
that the tiny insect was harmless. So, he did not fiddle with it. He let it be
there and waited for the insect to go to sleep.
The
narrator has the ability to think and he recognizes when he sees the display of
intelligence by anyone. This insect’s display of intelligence to save itself is
appreciated by the poet.
एक बार कथावाचक कागज की एक सफेद शीट पर लिख रहा था, तभी धूल का एक छोटा कण शीट पर उड़ गया। पहले तो उन्होंने सोचा कि यह उनकी सांस के कारण उड़ गया है लेकिन करीब से देखने पर उन्हें एहसास हुआ कि कण इधर-उधर भाग रहा था और यह कोई छोटा कीड़ा था। कीट सोच सकता था और खुद को बचाने की कोशिश कर रहा था। यह कथावाचक की कलम के डर से कभी-कभी चलती और रुकती भी थी। यह उस क्षेत्र तक पहुंच गया जहां वर्णनकर्ता ने लिखा था और स्याही अभी भी गीली थी। कीड़े ने स्याही को सूंघ लिया या पी लिया। उसे यह नापसंद था क्योंकि वह मुड़ गया और उड़ने की कोशिश करने लगा।
नन्हा जीव खुद को बचाने के लिए तरह-तरह के प्रयास करता रहा, जब उसे एहसास हुआ कि वह खुद को नहीं बचा सकता, तो उसका आत्मविश्वास कम हो गया। जीव इतना छोटा था कि उसके पैर नहीं थे लेकिन उसके पास एक जोड़ा था जिसके साथ वह खुद को बचाने के लिए बेतहाशा भागता था। अंततः, वह वर्णनकर्ता की इच्छा के आगे झुक गया और उसने स्वयं को शीट के बीच में समर्पित कर दिया।
वर्णनकर्ता पशु प्रेमी नहीं था, उस प्रकार के लोग जो पशु अधिकारों के लिए लड़ते थे और दिखाते थे कि उन्हें इन प्राणियों से बहुत प्यार था। उसे बस यह महसूस हुआ कि वह छोटा कीट हानिरहित था। इसलिए, उन्होंने इसमें कोई खिलवाड़ नहीं किया। उसने उसे वहीं रहने दिया और कीड़े के सो जाने का इंतजार करने लगा।
वर्णनकर्ता के पास सोचने की क्षमता है और वह किसी को भी बुद्धि का प्रदर्शन करते हुए देखता है तो पहचान लेता है। स्वयं को बचाने के लिए इस कीट की बुद्धिमत्ता के प्रदर्शन की कवि ने सराहना की है।
Glossary
of Difficult Words
Speck
→ a tiny spot, particle, or small bit.
Beneath
my sight → too small to be seen normally; below the threshold of vision.
Set
off → moved quickly across; began to go.
Idly
→ without much purpose; lazily
Poised
→ held in balance, ready to act.
Period
of ink → a dot made by a pen, here Frost intended to kill the mite with a pen
dot.
Mite
→ a very small insect-like creature (microscopic arachnid).
Inclinations
→ desires, tendencies, or intentions.
Suspicion
→ cautious distrust, wariness.
Manuscript
→ the handwritten text (poem/draft) he was writing.
Loathing
→ strong dislike or disgust
Plainly
→ clearly, obviously.
Intelligence
→ here, not just “cleverness,” but signs of thought, awareness, or
decision-making.
Set
of them complete (feet) → full equipment of legs, though tiny.
Express
→ show, indicate.
Cunning
→ cleverness or craftiness used to escape danger.
Crept
→ moved slowly and cautiously.
Faltered
→ hesitated, stumbled, became uncertain.
Hesitate
→ pause in uncertainty or doubt.
Cower
→ shrink down or crouch in fear.
Accorded
→ given or granted.
Fate
→ destiny, the outcome determined by circumstances or power.
Tenderer-than-thou
→ ironic phrase meaning “more compassionate and gentle than others” .
Collectivistic
→ relating to collectivism; the idea of organizing people into a group or
collective rather than valuing individuality.
Regimenting
→ strictly controlling or organizing like soldiers in a regiment.
Swept
→ carried along, influenced, dominated.
Microscopic
→ so small that it can only be seen under a microscope.
Item
→ here, meaning “creature” or “thing.”
Guise
→ outward form or appearance.
Display
of mind → evidence of thought, intelligence, or awareness.
Stanza-wise
Explanation of A Considerable Speck
Stanza
1 (Lines 1–4)
The
poet notices a tiny speck on his sheet of paper. Normally, it would be too
small to see, but the whiteness of the page makes it visible. The poet, holding
his pen in the air, is tempted to crush it with a dot of ink.
🔎 Meaning: Frost introduces a very
small, seemingly insignificant thing—a speck—on his writing page. At first, it
looks like just dust.
Stanza
2 (Lines 5–9)
As
he prepares to kill it, the poet realizes there is something unusual about this
speck. It isn’t dust blown by his breath but a living mite, a tiny creature
with its own will and tendencies.
🔎 Meaning: The speck is revealed to
be alive, not just a particle of dust. The poet begins to see it as an
independent being.
Stanza
3 (Lines 10–14)
The
mite seems cautious of the pen, then suddenly runs wildly across the page to a
spot where the ink isn’t dry. It pauses again, as if tasting or smelling the
ink, but then turns away in disgust and resumes moving.
🔎 Meaning: The mite shows signs of
awareness, suspicion, and even preference—like a creature capable of choice.
Stanza
4 (Lines 15–21)
The
poet concludes that he is dealing with an intelligent creature. It is so tiny
that it seems impossible for it to have legs, yet it clearly must have them. It
runs a “little race” across the manuscript, narrowly avoiding being trapped in
the verse itself, and finally rests content in a random place.
🔎 Meaning: The mite’s movements
appear purposeful, almost like a miniature version of life’s race, though
trivial compared to human effort.
Stanza
5 (Lines 22–24)
As
the mite rests, the poet bends closer to observe it. In doing so, he forgets
the idea he was writing about, because the mite has distracted him and sparked
a different train of thought.
🔎 Meaning: The tiny creature
interrupts the poet’s intellectual work, forcing him to think about something
beyond his planned writing.
Stanza
6 (Lines 25–29)
When
the mite disappears from sight, the poet feels as though he has lost a book
written by a living hand. To him, the mite seemed to possess a kind of
intellect like humans, though too small to understand the concerns of larger
brains.
🔎 Meaning: The poet reflects that
even this minute life shows intelligence, though on a scale incomprehensible to
humans. It mirrors human life in miniature.
Stanza
7 (Lines 30–33)
The
poet thinks of writing something down about this experience but changes his
mind, putting the pen aside. After all, it was only a speck of dust—but one
with a mind of its own. Out of respect for that tiny spark of life, he lets it
live.
🔎 Meaning: The poet ends with a
moral reflection: even the smallest living creature deserves recognition and
mercy.
✨ Overall Explanation:
The
poem humorously yet thoughtfully turns a trivial incident—the sight of a
microscopic mite on paper—into a meditation on life, intelligence, and respect
for living beings. Frost elevates something “considerable” out of the
“insignificant.”
MCQs
on A Considerable Speck
Stanza
1
1.
What first drew the poet’s attention to the speck?
a)
Its sound
b)
Its colour against the white paper
c)
Its smell
d)
Its movement in the air
Answer:
b) Its colour against the white paper
2.
What action was the poet about to take with his pen?
a)
Continue writing
b)
Crush the speck with a dot of ink
c)
Draw a picture of the speck
d)
Flick the speck away
Answer:
b) Crush the speck with a dot of ink
Stanza
2
3.
What did the poet first mistake the speck for?
a)
A grain of sand
b)
A drop of ink
c)
A piece of dust
d)
A letter mark
Answer:
c) A piece of dust
4.
What made the poet realize it was not dust?
a)
Its smell
b)
Its suspicious behaviour
c)
Its movement and will of its own
d)
Its shining colour
Answer:
c) Its movement and will of its own
Stanza
3
5.
What emotion does the poet attribute to the mite when it paused before the pen?
a)
Happiness
b)
Fear
c)
Suspicion
d)
Curiosity
Answer:
c) Suspicion
6.
What did the mite seem to do with the wet ink?
a)
Drink or smell it
b)
Swim in it
c)
Sleep on it
d)
Write with it
Answer:
a) Drink or smell it
7.
Why did the mite turn away from the ink?
a)
It was afraid of drowning
b)
It disliked the smell/taste
c)
It wanted to fly away
d)
It was chased by the poet
Answer:
b) It disliked the smell/taste
Stanza
4
8.
What quality of the mite does the poet acknowledge?
a)
Intelligence
b)
Strength
c)
Beauty
d)
Silence
Answer:
a) Intelligence
9.
What paradox about the mite does the poet notice?
a)
It was too tiny to live, yet alive
b)
Too tiny to have legs, yet it must have them
c)
Too tiny to breathe, yet it smelled
d)
Too tiny to think, yet it spoke
Answer:
b) Too tiny to have legs, yet it must have them
10.
What metaphor does Frost use for the mite’s movement?
a)
A war
b)
A dance
c)
A race
d)
A journey
Answer:
c) A race
11.
Why does the poet say the mite was “kept from being written into verse”?
a)
Its speed helped it escape the wet ink
b)
It was invisible to the poet
c)
It disappeared quickly
d)
The poet didn’t want to mention it
Answer:
a) Its speed helped it escape the wet ink
Stanza
5
12.
What happened to the poet’s original idea while he observed the mite?
a)
He remembered it more clearly
b)
He forgot it completely
c)
He improved it
d)
He wrote it faster
Answer:
b) He forgot it completely
13.
What pun occurs in this stanza?
a)
“Point” (argument + pen’s tip)
b)
“Race” (competition + movement)
c)
“Dust” (worthless + living being)
d)
“Period” (dot + ending)
Answer:
a) “Point” (argument + pen’s tip)
Stanza
6
14.
What did losing sight of the mite feel like to the poet?
a)
Losing a battle
b)
Misplacing a book
c)
Breaking his pen
d)
Forgetting a word
Answer:
b) Misplacing a book
15.
What human quality does the poet attribute to the mite?
a)
Strength
b)
Intelligence
c)
Creativity
d)
Kindness
Answer:
b) Intelligence
16.
Why couldn’t the mite understand “larger brains”?
a)
It had no sense of hearing
b)
It was too small to grasp human concerns
c)
It lived too short a life
d)
It was only interested in food
Answer:
b) It was too small to grasp human concerns
Stanza
7
17.
What did the poet first think of doing after observing the mite?
a)
Catching it
b)
Writing something about it
c)
Killing it
d)
Blowing it away
Answer:
b) Writing something about it
18.
What did the poet finally do with his pen?
a)
Dipped it in ink
b)
Laid it aside
c)
Wrote faster
d)
Broke it
Answer:
b) Laid it aside
19.
Why did the poet spare the mite’s life?
a)
He respected its independence
b)
He feared it
c)
He was too lazy to kill it
d)
It flew away before he could
Answer:
a) He respected its independence
20.
What is the final moral suggested in the poem?
a)
Even small life has value and intelligence
b)
Writing is more important than observing
c)
Nature should be feared
d)
All dust is dangerous
Answer:
a) Even small life has value and intelligence
21.
What is the tone of the poem?
a)
Angry
b)
Humorous yet thoughtful
c)
Sad and tragic
d)
Proud and boastful
Answer:
b) Humorous yet thoughtful
22.
Which device dominates the poem?
a)
Simile
b)
Hyperbole
c)
Personification
d)
Oxymoron
Answer:
c) Personification
23.
Why is the poem titled “A Considerable Speck”?
a)
The mite was large
b)
The mite was scientifically important
c)
Something very small proved “considerable” in thought
d)
The paper was dirty
Answer:
c) Something very small proved “considerable” in thought
24.
What does the “period of ink” symbolize?
a)
The poet’s laziness
b)
The ending of a sentence and the death of the mite
c)
The beginning of poetry
d)
The speed of writing
Answer:
b) The ending of a sentence and the death of the mite
25.
What best describes the central idea of the poem?
a)
Science of microscopic life
b)
The poet’s dislike of insects
c)
Respect for life and intelligence, however small
d)
The importance of neat handwriting
Answer:
c) Respect for life and intelligence, however small
Two-Mark
Questions and Answers
1.
Why did the poet almost kill the speck with his pen?
Because he mistook it for a mere dust particle and was about to crush it with a
“period of ink.”
2.
How did the poet realize the speck was alive?
He noticed it moving deliberately and
showing signs of suspicion and choice, unlike dust blown by air.
3.
What did the mite do when it reached the wet ink?
It paused, seemed to taste or smell the
ink, disliked it, and turned away.
4.
What human qualities does Frost attribute to the mite?
Intelligence, suspicion, loathing, choice, and contentment.
5.
Why does Frost call the mite’s movement a “little race”?
To humorously compare its tiny, quick movement across the paper to the larger
“race” of life.
6.
What happened to the poet’s original idea while watching the mite?
He forgot the “point” he was making because the mite distracted his thoughts.
7.
Explain the pun in the line: “And forgot the point I was making.”
“Point” refers both to the argument he was writing and to the pen’s pointed
tip.
8.
Why does the poet compare losing sight of the mite to losing a book?
Because the mite’s actions seemed like a meaningful text, as if written by a
“living hand.”
9.
What limitation does the poet see in the mite’s intelligence?
It is too small to understand the concerns of “larger brains” like humans.
10.
Why does the poet finally let the speck live?
He respects its independence and
acknowledges that even a tiny creature has a mind of its own.
11.
What is the central moral of the poem?
Every living being, however small, deserves respect and recognition for its
intelligence and life.
12.
How does the poem show humor along with seriousness?
By giving human qualities (suspicion, loathing, contentment) to a tiny mite,
while also reflecting on the value of life.
Three-Mark
Questions and Answers
1.
How does Frost transform an insignificant mite into a subject of poetry?
Frost observes the mite closely and describes its movements with humor and
seriousness. By attributing human qualities like suspicion, loathing,
intelligence, and contentment, he elevates a trivial speck into a
“considerable” subject that inspires reflection on life and respect for even
the smallest creatures.
2.
Explain the double meaning in the phrase “period of ink.”
The “period” means both a dot of ink at the end of a sentence and the literal
end (death) of the mite’s life. This wordplay shows how easily human writing
power could have destroyed the tiny living creature, linking poetry with the
fragility of existence.
3.
How does Frost use personification in the poem? Give two examples.
Frost gives human traits to the mite, making it appear intelligent and
purposeful. For example, the mite is described as showing “suspicion of my pen”
and turning away from the ink “with loathing.” These personifications make the
mite seem alive and almost human.
4.
What is the irony in the title “A Considerable Speck”?
The title is ironic because the speck is actually microscopic and insignificant
in size, yet it becomes “considerable” in meaning. Frost finds great
philosophical value in the tiny mite, proving that even the smallest things can
carry large significance.
5.
How does the poet react when he loses sight of the mite?
He feels as though he has lost a book “written by a living hand.” This shows
that he saw the mite’s movements as meaningful, almost like literature. Its
disappearance symbolizes how easily human beings can overlook the intelligence
of smaller lives.
6.
Why does Frost finally put his pen aside instead of killing the mite?
Frost realizes that the mite, though only a speck of dust in appearance, has “a
mind of its own.” Respecting its independence and life, he spares it. This act
symbolizes humility, mercy, and recognition of life’s value at every scale.
7.
What philosophical thought does Frost express through the contrast between the
mite’s brain and the human brain?
Frost suggests that the mite has
intellect like humans, but too small to understand human concerns. This
contrast emphasizes relativity in intelligence: just as mites cannot grasp
human worries, perhaps humans too may be blind to higher truths.
8.
How does the poem blend humour and seriousness?
The humour comes from exaggerating the mite’s actions as if it were a
suspicious, loathing, intelligent creature running a “little race.” The
seriousness comes from Frost’s deeper reflection on the dignity of life and the
poet’s moral decision to spare it.
Reference
to Context:1
Lines:
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,
Q1.
What is the “speck” the poet notices?
Ans.
It is a tiny living mite, at first mistaken for dust.
Q2.
How does the poet initially react?
Ans.
He raises his pen to crush it with ink but hesitates when he realizes something
unusual about it.
Lines:
This
was no dust speck by my breathing blown,
But
unmistakably a living mite
With
inclinations it could call its own.
Q1.
What makes the poet conclude it is not dust?
Ans.
The speck moved independently, showing will and purpose.
Q2.
What does “inclinations it could call its own” mean?
Ans.
It means the mite had its own instincts, choices, and desires.
Lines:
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.
Q1.
How does the mite behave?
Ans.
It pauses in fear, then rushes ahead, smells or tastes the wet ink, dislikes
it, and tries to escape.
Q2.
What quality of the mite is highlighted?
Ans.
Its cautious and intelligent behavior, showing awareness of its surroundings.
Lines:
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.
Q1.
Why does the poet call it intelligent?
Ans.
Because the mite showed fear, hesitation, and a will to survive.
Q2.
What does the mite’s movement reveal?
Ans.
Its desperate attempt to escape death and cling to life.
Lines:
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.
Q1.
How does the mite express fear?
Ans.
It runs wildly, creeps cautiously, falters, and finally crouches helplessly.
Q2.
What does “accept whatever I accorded it of fate” mean?
Ans.
The mite resigns itself to whatever decision the poet makes—life or death.
Lines:
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!
Q1.
What does Frost criticize here?
Ans.
He criticizes the artificial, exaggerated collective love promoted by modern
ideologies.
Q2.
How is his compassion different?
Ans.
His compassion is simple, personal, and genuine, shown by sparing the mite’s
life.
Lines:
Since
it was nothing I knew evil of
I
let it lie there till I hope it slept.
Q1.
Why does the poet not kill the mite?
Ans.
Because it did no harm, and he felt no reason to destroy it.
Q2.
What does this reveal about Frost?
Ans.
His humanity, mercy, and respect for even the smallest form of life.
Lines:
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.
Q1.
What final point does the poet make?
Ans.
He values “mind” or intelligence, no matter how small or where it appears.
Q2.
Why is he glad?
Ans.
Because discovering a sign of mind—even in a mite—brings him joy and
affirmation of life’s intelligence
Reference
to Context:2
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.
Q1
(2 Marks): What was the “speck” and where did the poet see it?
Ans:
The speck was a tiny living mite, and the poet noticed it moving across his
white paper sheet.
Q2
(3 Marks): Why does the poet say it would have been “beneath my sight”?
Ans:
The mite was so small that it would normally go unnoticed, but the whiteness of
the sheet made it visible.
Extract
2
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,
Q3
(2 Marks): What did the poet intend to do with his pen?
Ans:
He thought of killing the speck by putting a period of ink on it.
Q4
(3 Marks): What made the poet change his mind?
Ans:
He noticed something unusual in its movement, which suggested it was alive and
purposeful, not just dust.
Extract
3
This
was no dust speck by my breathing blown,
But
unmistakably a living mite
With
inclinations it could call its own.
Q5
(2 Marks): How did the poet distinguish it from dust?
Ans:
The speck moved deliberately with will, unlike dust that drifts aimlessly.
Q6
(3 Marks): What does “inclinations it could call its own” suggest?
Ans:
It means the mite had a mind of its own, showing willpower, freedom, and
independence.
Extract
4
It
paused as with suspicion of my pen,
And
then came racing wildly on again
To
where my manuscript was not yet dry;
Q7
(2 Marks): How did the mite react to the pen?
Ans:
It paused as if suspicious or afraid of the pen, then hurried away.
Q8
(3 Marks): What does this reaction reveal about the mite?
Ans:
It reveals its sense of awareness, fear of danger, and its survival instinct.
Extract
5
Then
paused again and either drank or smelt—
With
loathing, for again it turned to fly.
Q9
(2 Marks): What did the mite appear to do on the wet ink?
Ans:
It seemed to drink or smell the ink.
Q10
(3 Marks): Why did it turn away quickly?
Ans:
It probably found the ink unpleasant or harmful, showing discrimination and
choice.
Extract
6
Plainly
with an intelligence I dealt.
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.
Q11
(2 Marks): What does the poet mean by “Plainly with an intelligence I dealt”?
Ans:
He realized he was observing a tiny creature with intelligence and feelings.
Q12
(3 Marks): How does the mite’s behavior show its fear?
Ans:
It hesitated, faltered, and crouched down helplessly, as if surrendering to the
poet’s decision about its life.
Extract
7
And
I have none of the tenderer-than-thou
Collectivistic
regimenting love;
Q13
(2 Marks): What type of love does the poet reject?
Ans:
He rejects artificial, over-sentimental, and collective love that forces
uniformity.
Q14
(3 Marks): Why does Frost call such love “collectivistic regimenting”?
Ans:
He criticizes love that is not personal or genuine, but instead rigid,
organized, and imposed, lacking individuality.
Extract
8
For
creature mine I have only contempt,
And
I was quick to use my contempt in vain:
For
nothing but black ink for fountain pen
Was
ever turned to so interesting use
As
I shall show when I discuss it with my friends.
Q15
(2 Marks): What does the poet mean by “creature mine I have only contempt”?
Ans:
He means he normally looks down on insignificant beings but here feels
differently.
Q16
(3 Marks): Why does he call the ink’s use “interesting”?
Ans:
Because instead of just writing, the ink served to reveal the presence and behaviour
of a living, intelligent mite, which fascinated him.
Extract
9
A
mind was in it, and it was mortal.
But
it was not like mine with a mind of its own,
But
as much as a mind as ever was given
To
a mote of dust or a blade of grass.
Q17
(2 Marks): What does the poet discover about the mite?
Ans:
He discovers that it had a small mind and was also mortal.
Q18
(3 Marks): How does Frost compare the mite’s mind to other forms of life?
Ans:
He says the mite’s mind was as much as nature ever gave to tiny things like
dust or grass—small, but still real and valuable.
Extract
10
Oh
no, I was out for sport of words,
And
words alone. I will not kill you.
I
stayed my hand. Your little life I spare.
Q19
(2 Marks): Why does the poet decide not to kill the mite?
Ans:
He spares it because he respects its small life and intelligence.
Q20
(3 Marks): How does this decision reflect Frost’s attitude to life?
Ans:
It shows his humanism, compassion, and respect for even the smallest beings. He
values life and individuality, however tiny.
Courtesy:
SuccessCDs and ChatGPT
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