FROST

A CONSIDERABLE SPECK-kOBERT
poet notice a 'speck'?
1.What is a 'speck'? Where and why did the
A 'speck' is an insignificant or minute spot.
The noet noticed a speck when he was writing on a white sheet of paper. he notIced it because the paper he was
movement of the mite.
Writing on was very white and also because of the
been beneath his sicht?
2.When did the speaker notice 'a speck'? Why did he feel that it would have
'a speck He felt that
The speaker was writing something on a white sheet of paper, when he suddenly noticed
it would have been beneath his sight because he was busy writing. Moreover, the speck was so small and
seemingly insignificant. The speck was tiny and easily overlooked, but its movement and apparent purpose
caught the speaker's attention.
3.Why did the mite pause with suspicion?
The mite paused with suspicion because it was wary of the pen, possibly perceiving it as athreat. This behavior
demonstrates the mite's instinct for self-preservation and its cautious nature in an unfamiliar environment.
4.Why did it start racing wildly after a pause? Why was the manuscript not yet diy?
The mite started racing wildly after a pause probably because, the ink made it feel it was not safe, so out of fear,
suspicion and terror started racing wildly.
The manuscript was not yet dry because the speaker had recently written on the paper, and the ink had not had
enough time to dry completely.

5.What did 'It' drink or smell with loathing? Why? What did it do after that?
The mite either drank or smelled the fresh ink on the manuscript with loathing to check whether it was safe or
not. It likely found the ink unappealing or even repulsive. After this, it turned away in disgust and started to flee
until it reached the middle of the paper, indicating its aversion to the ink.
6.Why did the poet idly' poise his pea? What was his first thought?
The poet 'idly' poised his pen in the air as he was distracted by the movement of the mite across the
page.
His first thought was to stop it with a period of ink, which is a full stop made with his pen.

7.What made the poet change his intention?

The mite's movement and appearance made him change his mind as he realised that i
was not a speck of dust
blown over by his breath. It was a tiny, living and breathing mite. It had its own set of
had a mind of its own and decision-making powers.
desires and feelings. It

8.What made the poet realise he was dealing with an intelligent ereature?
The poet recognises that despite its tiny size, the mite had a level of
awareness. The mite paused when it saw
the danger of the poet's per and then ran wildly on again with the intention of
saving its life to where the
manuscript was not yet dry. It paused there again and either drank or smelt the ink and with great
turned to fly. loathing,
 for each word chosen for
words to describe the noet's attitude iowards the mite. Give a reason
9.Give tvo
the description.
curious and respectful towards the mite when it realises its desire to live when it
The poet iS compassionate, by its intelligence, the poet empathizes with the
mite's fear and
is terrified and chooses not to harm it. Intrigued will to iive, demonstrating an appreciation
desperation. Choosing not to harm it, the speaker acknowledges its
for ali forms of life, regardless of size.
an intelligent creature who has decision making
The poet has respect for the mite as he recognises that it is
abilities.

change his mind? What

10.Why does the narrator think that the mite did not have feet? What made him
was this behaviour indicative of?
The narrator first thought that the mite dicn't have legs as it was too minute to have any.
Hechanged his mind when he saw it running in terror and with cunning, creeping arou.d to save its life.
He saw this behaviour as an act of seif-corservation that every living thing possesses.

11.What made the speaker realise that the mite didn't want to die?
The sreaker realized that themite didn't vant todie because it exhibited beliaviors such as running with terror.,
and creeping as an act of self-conservation which every living thing possesses. These actions demonstrated the
mite's instinct to avoid death and desire to continue to live.

12.What did 'It" doin the middle of the sheet of paper? Why?
In the middle oi the sheet of paper. the mite cowered down in desperation to accept the fate whatever may be in
the middle of the sheet of paper. It did this because it realized it was vulnerable and likely trapped,
demonstrating its fear and acceptance of whatever fate the speaker nmight decide for it.
13.What trait does the narrator say he doesn't possess? What is the meaning of the term? What is the
result of lackirg this trait? Identify a fiure of speech.
The narrator says he doesntpossess the trait of tenderer-than-thou collectivistic regimenting love'.
This phrase means indiscriminate love for living things. It criticises the principle that suppresses individualism.
It criticizes the principle of collectivismthat one perceives in modern society as to howindividual
freedom and personal identity are suppressed in favor of group conformity. The result of lacking this trait is that
the speaker is more individualistic and empathetic, leading him to treat the mite with compassion and let it rest
peacefully, rather than imposing his will on it.
The figure of speech is satire.

14.Explainwith reference to context the meaning of the phrase Collectivistic regimenting love'
The phrase "collectivistic regimenting love" criticizes that suppresses individualism. This phrase references
communism, which ermphasizes the needs of the group over the individual. It satirizes people's tendency to
conform to the collective identity, criticizing

15.What phrase does the narrator go on to use to describe the mite? Why? What does it reveal about
him?
The phrase used by the narrator to describe the mite is poor microscopic item'.
He uses this phrase as he saw it as a tiny and helpless creature.
It reveals that the poet was a kind, compassIonate and respecttul man who had sympathy for all creatures
irrespective of their size. He respects the individuality of even a tiny creature.
 I6.ln what way does the noet identify with the mite?
What does the poet appreciate and why?
Tne poet is grateful that he too had a mind that could think and identify
that shows it. intelligence irrespective of the creature
Ine poetappreciates the presence of intelligence or athinking mind in any form because he values the ability to
think and act with independence. He values and recognizes the presence of inteligence and purposeful
behavior, even in the smallest of creatures.

17.Where does the speaker find the mind? In which 'guise' does he find it? How does he recognize it?
The speaker finds the mind in the tiny mite. He encounters it in the "guise" of asmall seemingly insignificant
creature. He recognizes the mind through the mite's purposeful behavior and actions, such as fear, contusion,
and terror in order to survive.

18.What fate did the narrator accord to the mite?

The narrator let the mite lie there as he saw no reason to harm it. He respected the mite's fight to preserveitself.
The act reflects the poem's theme of reverence/respect for life. Herecognizes its întelligence and will to live.
This empathy and respect for even the smallest form of life reflect the speaker's conipassionate and humane
attitude.

19.What is the reason for the speaker's feeling of gladness? Givethe symbolic meaning of the line 'On
any sheet the least display of mind'.
The speaker feels glad because he recognizes and appreciates the presence of intelligence and awareness in the
tiny mite. The line "On any sheet the least display of mind"symbol1zes the speaker's appieciation for
intelligence and awareness in any form. Itreflects bis value for individual thought,even in the smallest
creatures, highlighting the themne of reverence for alllife.
20.Explain the theme of the poem.
The poem appreciates the intellect of all creatures, even in the smallest of creatures. By sparig the life of the
mite and observing iis actions with interest, the narrator demonstrates an appreciation for the worth of even the
most minute creatures. It emphasizes empathy and the value of individual life. The poet's compassionate
treatment of the tiny mite highlights the significance cf every living being and critiques the collective mindset
of modern society that often overlooks individualworth.
21.Comment on the title of the poem.
The title AConsiderable Speck is an oxymoron where 'considerable' means significant and 'speck' means
worthless.
It highlights the speaker's significant attention to something seemingly insignificant. The speck, which would
ordinarily be beneath notice due to its small size, becomes considerable' because it exhibits signs of life and
purpose. It was 'a living mite' having its own feelings and decision-making power.
The poem appreciates the importance of the human faculty of mind, its imagination and creativity. The poet
recognises and appreciates the use of mind by an insignificant mite, which appears on a sheet of paper on
he was writing something. The mite uses it mind, imagination and which
creativity to preserve itself which is better
than humans who are influenced by the principle of collectivism.
 MCÇ's
L.What made the speaker notice the speck that would have been
beneath his sioht?
(a) Its presence ona white sheet of paper (b) Its shape like a full-stop
(c) Its dark colour (d) None of the above.
2.What was the mite's suspicion?
(a) Of being thrown away from paper (b) Of being blown away by the speaker's breath
c)0fgetting killed by the speaker's pen (d) Allof the above.
3.Which figure of speech is used in the phrase with cunning crept?
(a) Personification (b)Simile (c) Metonym (d) Alliteration

4.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 fd) None of the above.

5.Which figure of speech is used in the line given below?Thaye nonefti.e tenderer-than-thou.
(a) Personification (b) Metaphor (c) Simile (d) Alliteration

6.According to the speaker, the modernworld is swept by which of the following

(a) Individualism (b) Collectivism (c) Selfishness (d) None of the above.

7.What is the central theme of the poemn?

(a) Mind, its creativity and imagination (b)Collectivistic ideology
(c) Superiority of man (d) None of the above.

8.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 nmust 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