A Considerable Speck
The poem ‘A Considerable Speck’ is about a speck of dust initially mistaken for a mite trying to evade the narrator's pen, sensing danger.
Meet the Poet
- Robert Lee Frost was an American Poet, known for his authentic portrayal of rural existence and his mastery of American Colloquial Speech.
- Born: 26th March, 1874
- Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Died: 29th January, 1963
- Major Works: A Boy’s Will, North of Boston, New Hampshire
- Best Known For: He is known for his evocative poetry that captures the essence of nature, human experience, and intricacies of rural life.
Share Options
Summary of the Poem
As the narrator writes on a white sheet of paper, a tiny dust particle catches his attention as it is drawn lazily over the page. Initially, he thought to blow it off with his breath, but on closer inspection, it showed that a tiny insect was running ubiquitously.
The insect showed signs of alertness and fear as it tried to save itself. Eventually, it moved to the area of a freshly inked section of the paper where it could feel the wet ink and tried to smell and drink it. It ran and stopped at times due to the fear of the narrator’s pen. This showed the creature's powerful decision-making skills despite its small size. Displeased by the encounter it quickly changed direction and attempted to take a flight.
This was no dust speck by my breathing blown,
But unmistakably a living mite
With inclinations it could call its own.
The narrator reflects that this was no mere dust speck but a living mite with its own inclinations. The tiny creature exhausts every effort to preserve its life. Although it lacks traditional feet, it moves across the paper with a determined effort to save itself, ultimately succumbing to the narrator’s will in the middle of the sheet. The narrator sees this struggle as a reflection of all living beings, from the smallest speck to the most complex human, each striving to live according to their nature.
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.
The narrator was neither an advocate for animal rights nor a person who expressed deep affection for creatures, yet he perceived the tiny insect as non threatening. He represents a “collectivistic regimenting love,” akin to the growing influence of communism at the time, and refrains from disturbing or killing it until it finally settles down to rest. This illustrates a contrast between compassion and the right to live.
The narrator can think and he interprets the display of intelligence in a sheet of paper by anyone. He admires and appreciates the insect's display of intelligence to save itself.
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.
The poet concludes by saying that his writing gained vitality after witnessing a living creature on the sheet even before he finished writing a full stop. He feels content and wants to convey that there is life and reality infused and the interplay of mind and imagination.
Now let us take a look at some of the literary devices used in the story.
Oxymoron:
It is an adjective used for the noun that is contrary to its noun qualities.
“A Considerable Speck” is an oxymoron where considerable implies significant and speck means worthlessness.
Imagery:
Imagery is used by the writer to bring a scene to life.
Visual imagery has been shown to display the movement of the mite.
Alliteration:
It is the repetition of the consonant sound at the start of two or more consecutive words. Some of the examples from the poem are:
- Breathing blown
- Could call
- My manuscript
- Too tiny
- Cunning crept
- With which
- Mind myself
These literary techniques emphasize more on the poem of how a mite tries to escape with intelligence but the human mind is devoid of wit and willpower.
Share Options
Above and Beyond the Text
Communism
Communism is a political and economic ideology that promotes the collective ownership of the means of production. It seeks to establish equality and collaboration among society's members by establishing a system in which the allocation of goods and services is determined by need rather than profit.
Here the poet uses the phrase “collectivistic regimenting love” in the poem “A considerable speck” as communism was growing in modern times. The poet means to say that he refrains from killing the mite as it has its decision-making skills and the opportunity to live. He is remarking on collectivism against individualism. He also interprets that the human mind just follows the collective group members and fails to think independently. He says in a satirical way that the mite is more intelligent than humans in making decisions on its own and living life its way.
Robert Frost
He published 11 books of poetry, won four Pulitzer Prizes, established himself as the unofficial poet laureate of the United States, and acquired a national and international literary reputation. His main aim was to promote individual initiative.
Share Options
Get Personalized Tuitions
We offer premium education on a personalized level. Online tuition for all grades, tailor-made!
A Considerable Speck Questions and Answers
Below are a few questions that you can look out for your examinations and class tests. Stand out with perfectly written answers with help of Aneetta Class.
Initially he finds the mite to be a speck but later considers it a living creature with wit and powerful decision-making skills to evade the narrator's pen.
He perceived the tiny insect as non threatening and found it had the opportunity to live due to its independent thinking, unlike humans. Therefore he refrained from disturbing and killing it until it eventually settled down to rest.
The mite surrendered in the middle of the sheet desperately accepting the fate whatever the poet decided for it.
MCQ And RTC
Revise and master this essential ICSE chapter with carefully prepared interactive MCQs, RTCs, and comprehensive workbook solutions.
Start Your Test