6.1 The speaker
| Trait | Evidence |
|---|---|
| observant | notices a speck almost too small to see |
| curious | studies the mite's behaviour closely |
| humorous | deduces it "must have had feet"; ends with a joke |
| thoughtful | reflects on mind and intelligence |
| independent-minded | rejects fashionable sentimental "love of all" |
| respectful of intelligence | lets the mite live because it shows a mind |
6.2 The mite
| Trait | Evidence (as the speaker sees it) |
|---|---|
| tiny | a "speck", a "mite" |
| alive and wilful | "inclinations it could call its own" |
| wary | pauses, suspicious of the pen |
| frightened | runs in terror, cowers |
| cunning | creeps cunningly |
| desperate to survive | turns to flee; faltering |