Poem: Keeping Quiet 12

 

Poem: Keeping Quiet

Poet: Pablo Neruda
Theme: Peace, silence, introspection, and unity

 Word Meanings (Selected from the poem)

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Exotic	Unusual and different; foreign
In a sudden strangeness	A moment of silence that feels unusual
Fishermen in the cold sea	Symbolizes people harming nature
Green wars	Wars against nature or environment
Victory with no survivors	Pointless wars where no one really wins
Inaction	Not taking action, being still
Interrupt	To stop or break the flow of something
Threatening ourselves with death	Creating conflict and destruction among ourselves
Count to twelve	A symbolic pause for reflection and peace

Summary of "Keeping Quiet"

The poet urges humanity to take a moment of silence, asking everyone to count to twelve and stop speaking or moving. He suggests that such a pause would create a strange but beautiful moment of unity and peace, where people reflect and understand themselves better.

Neruda emphasizes the need to break away from the constant rush of life, war, and destruction. Instead, he invites people to embrace calmness, self-reflection, and a deeper connection with others and nature. The silence is not about total inactivity but about stopping harmful actions and being mindful.

He makes it clear this is not about death or laziness, but about inner renewal and peace. In the end, the poet compares his message to the quiet rhythm of Earth — a cycle of stillness and life.

Rhyming Scheme

"Keeping Quiet" is written in free verse — it does not follow a specific rhyming scheme. The poem relies more on tone, imagery, and rhythm than on rhyme.

Central Idea

The central idea of "Keeping Quiet" is the importance of introspection, silence, and peaceful coexistence. Pablo Neruda believes that by pausing our destructive actions and embracing stillness, humans can develop greater understanding, compassion, and unity. The poem promotes universal brotherhood, environmental consciousness, and inner peace through a moment of thoughtful silence.

1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?
ans :- Counting to twelve and keeping still gives us a short break to think. Most problems come from rushing. This pause helps us relax, stay calm, and find peace by stopping our actions for a moment.

2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
No, the poet does not support doing nothing or dying. He only wants a short break from busy life. This stillness helps us think better, not stop living. It is a pause, not the end of life.

3. What is the 'sadness' the poet refers to?
The sadness is that people do not understand themselves. They act without thinking and make harmful choices. This can lead to pain and death. A moment of silence can stop this and help people understand life better.

4. What symbol from nature does the poet invoke to show that there can be life under apparent stillness?
ans :- The poet talks about the Earth. Even when it looks still or quiet, life continues under it. Trees grow, seeds sprout. This shows that silence is not empty—there can be life and growth in quietness too.

Short‑Answer Type Questions (30–40 words)

1. Why does Neruda ask us to keep still?
   He believes that stillness delivers inner calm and reflection. Most problems arise due to human rush, so a moment of quiet gives people the chance to introspect and consider better actions. 

2. Why shouldn’t we speak or move our arms?
   Speech in many languages often leads to disputes, and arms (metaphorically, for weapons) cause violence. Neruda wants silence and rest from harm to encourage peace. 

3. Explain “we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.”
   When machines stop and humans pause, the resulting silence becomes an exotic, strange moment of universal peace and connectedness.

4. Why address fishermen and salt gatherers?
   The poet urges fishermen not to hunt whales and the salt gatherer to look after injured hands—symbols showing human actions harm others and self unless checked. 

5. What are ‘green wars’ and what alternative is proposed?
   ‘Green wars’ refer to environmental destruction. Instead of conflict, the poet wants people to wear clean clothes, walk in the shade with others, and simply do nothing—promoting harmony. 

6. How can suspension of activities restore peace?
   Pausing the rush gives time for thoughtful reflection, reducing hurry-driven conflict. It brings peace, insight, and better decision-making. 

7. What lesson does Earth teach according to Neruda?
   The Earth maintains life even under stillness—hibernation or dormancy precedes renewal. Humans, too, can pause without dying and later revive stronger. 

Long‑Answer Questions (5 marks)

i. Explain: “Life is what it is about.” & “As when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.”

• “Life is what it is about” means the moment of stillness is not death; rather, it enables renewal and reflection. It doesn’t halt living.

• The earth analogy: though seasons make it appear dead, life springs again in renewal—symbolizing nature’s resilience and the power of resurrection after introspection.

ii. What is the underlying message of Keeping Quiet? Why does Neruda call upon us to keep quiet?

Neruda urges a collective, brief silence to resist warlike and destructive tendencies. The message: halt harmful actions, embrace introspection, and foster compassion. This pause builds private and societal transformation, renewing our sense of togetherness and environmental awareness