Keeping Quiet

- Pablo Neruda

Learning Objectives:
• To analyze the use of symbolism and metaphor in "Keeping Quiet"
• To synthesize critical insights into the poem's structure, language, and tone

Theme: (Write in your own words/research and write accurately)

Poetic Devices: (Take a print out and attach in the notebook )

1. Metaphor:
- shade, refers to peace/protection
- clean clothes, refers to cleansing one’s heart, soul and mind.
2. Symbolism:
▪ counting to twelve- symbolises time
▪ Brothers- symbolise mankind
▪ green wars- refer to deforestation/exploitation of nature
▪ wars with gas- refers to chemical/biological weapons or pollution
▪ clean clothes- symbolise change of perspective
▪ shade- symbolises peace/protection
3. Irony: a contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs
• victory with no survivors
• "everything seems dead" (a situation of bleakness or hopelessness ) but then reveals that
the opposite is true ("later proves to be alive"), creating a contrast between the initial
appearance and the eventual reality.
4. Antithesis: It is the juxtaposition of opposing or contrasting ideas. e.g., ―count to twelve
and we will all keep still. Here counting and keeping still are contrasting activities and are put
together.
5. Anaphora: Two consecutive lines starting with the same word.
• let’s not speak…,
let’s stop…,
6. Alliteration:
• ‘we will’ , sudden strangeness’, ‘his hurt hands’, ‘wars with’ , ‘clean clothes’, ‘we were,
so single – minded’, ‘stop for one second’.
7. Repetition: It is the repetition of words/phrases in the poem for poetic effect. e.g. ―without
rush, without engines, ‘green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire’ etc.
8. Oxymoron: "seems dead" and "later proves to be alive" -It creates a vivid contrast that
highlights the unexpected or paradoxical nature of the situation.
9. Antithesis: ‘count to twelve and we will all keep still’. Here counting and keeping still are
contrasting activities and are put together.
10. Personification: ‘Face of the Earth’, ‘Earth can teach us’.

I Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
( Write the first & last lines only)
Q.1. Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors, would
put on clean clothes
 and walk about with their brothers in
the shade, doing nothing.

1. Green wars is a symbol of ______

a. War with organic weapons
b. Harm to nature
c. damage to green – deforestation

2. Which poetic device is used here- ‘and walk about with their brothers
in the shade’?

3. What does victory with no survivors indicate?

i. Wars are wasteful
ii. Wars lead to death and destruction
iii. There is no victory in a war

a. all the above

b. Only i
c. Only ii
d. i and ii

4. What is the message of this stanza?

Q.2. ( Write the first & last lines only)

“If we were not so single-minded about
keeping our lives moving, and for once
could do nothing, perhaps a huge
silence might interrupt this sadness of
never understanding ourselves and of
threatening ourselves with death.

(a) Whom does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines?

(b) Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing’ for once?
(c) What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
(d) How can a huge silence do good to us?

III Long Answer question:

Q - The world has become a global village, and people across boundaries, nationalities and
communities are now connected to one another. With the advancement of technology, and the
advent of social media, do you think that the task of keeping quiet, as envisaged by Neruda, has
become easier or more complicated? Justify your stance.
Cues for Support:
First Paragraph:
• Introduce the concept of the world becoming a global village due to advancements in transportation and
communication.
• Mention the widespread use of communication technology and social media platforms in connecting people
globally.
Second Paragraph:
• Challenges of Technology for "Keeping Quiet" -Constant connectivity through smartphones and social media can
inhibit moments of silence.
• Digital distractions and the fear of missing out (FOMO) deter individuals from unplugging and embracing
silence. Third Paragraph:
• Summarize conflicting perspectives on technology and "keeping quiet."
• Highlight the importance of individual perception and understanding.