KEEPING QUIET

GIST OF THE POEM

 The poet talks about the need of silence and quiet introspection and the importance of quietude and calmness. He also
talks about creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.
 The poet asks us to keep still and count up to twelve. He also asks us to sit still. For a moment we should not speak any
language. We should not move our arms so much.
 It will be a moment of complete silence without rush or worry. This would be an exotic moment.
 Then a sudden strangeness will prevail which we will all enjoy. It will be bliss.
 The fisherman would not harm the whales on the cold sea. Even the man gathering salt would stop working and look at
his hurt hands and reflect at the pain and harm his strenuous task has caused him.
 All kinds of wars must be stopped at once. The green wars against the environment, wars with poisonous gases, firearms,
must be stopped at once.
 People who are all the time preparing for wars leaving no survivors behind ought to find time to wear clothes and walk
around with their brothers strengthening the message of peace and brotherhood.
 At the same time the poet cautions not to confuse stillness with total inactivity. Life is an ongoing process and should not
be associated with death. It is to be lived with a positive attitude.
 He does not want us to ruminate(ponder) over death.
 But he feels that if for once we do not focus ourselves single-mindedly to keep our lives moving but do some
introspection or spend some time in silence doing nothing, we can understand ourselves better and escape from the
threatening calls of death.
 The earth can teach us a lesson how everything comes to a dead end and comes to life again.
 In the same manner a quiet introspection can bring all evil thoughts to an end and bring in a new life of peace and
tranquility.
 Now the poet will count up to twelve and they should keep quiet and he will go.

REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
Stanza 1
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
And not move our arms so much.
Questions
(a) What is the significance of the number ‘twelve’ ?
(b) Which two activities does the poet want us to stop ?
(c) What does the poet mean by ‘let’s not speak in any language’ ?
(d) Describe the pun on the word ‘arms’.
Answers
(a) There are twelve hours on the face of the clock and also there are twelve months in a year. The poet also refers to the
number twelve. He wants us to suspend our activities for twelve seconds.
(b) The poet wants us to stop talking and moving our arms.
(c) The poet wants us to give a universal message. He wants that all the people of the world irrespective of their
nationality should suspend their activities for a few seconds. Not to use any organ to communicate.
(d) The poet has used the word arms for two purposes. He wants us to keep still for a few seconds and not move our arms.
The second meaning of the word arms is weapons. The poet wants us to stop the use of arms against anyone.
Stanza 2
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales.
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
 (b) Which moment has been referred to here and how it will be significant ?
(c) How would we feel during that moment ?
(d) What does the poet want from the fishermen ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) The moment of quiet introspection has been referred here. It is significant in the sense that it brings all of us together
and we have a feeling of oneness.
(c) We would feel all together and have a feeling of sudden strangeness.
(d) The poet wants that the fishermen should not kill whales for sometime.
Stanza 3
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.
Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What does the poet mean by green wars ?
(c) What types of wars does the poet mention ?
(d) What does the poet want from the lovers of the war ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) It means the war against the environment or defores-tation.
(c) The poet mentions green wars, wars with gas and wars with fire.
(d) He wants them to wear clean clothes and walk lei-surely with their brothers.
Stanza 4
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.
Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What should not be confused with total inactivity ?
(c) What does the poet mean by …. I want no truck with death ?
(d) What is the gist of this stanza ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) Keeping quiet and remaining still should not be con-fused with total inactivity.
(c) The poet wants to say that stillness and quietness is not death. He wants to restart his activities again after
introspection of a few seconds.
(d) In this stanza the poet says that quietness is not death. Rather it helps us to restart our activities in a fresh way.
Stanza 5
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.
Questions
(a) Whom does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines ?
(b) Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing1 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 ?
Answers
(a) ‘We’ in this stanza refers to the human beings who are self-centred and who only think about themselves.
(b) By doing nothing for once, we can have ample time to introspect ourselves and analyse our actions.
 (c) When people don’t introspect themselves, they fail to understand themselves, then ‘sadness’ arises.
(d) Huge silence helps in analysing ourselves. In this way, we can introspect ourselves.
Stanza 6
Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
Questions
(a) What does the earth teach us ?
(b) Why does the poet count up to twelve ?
(c) What will keeping quiet help us achieve ?
(d) How does the earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness ?
Answers
(a) The earth teaches us that there is life in what we think that is dead.
(b) The poet wants to introspect by counting twelve.
(c) Keeping quiet help us to recuperate our energy. In this way, we can start our activities with fresh zeal and energy.
(d) We think that the earth is dead as it remains still But many changes are kept taking under the surface of the earth. A
seed that seems dead germinates under the earth and a new life springs from it. The earth always seems in motion.
Reference To Context---
1.Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still…………….. we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.
1. What does “not speak in any language” imply?
Ans: Different languages cause barriers and words can be misunderstood and cause conflict.
Therefore, the poet wants us to be one in silence.
2. Why does the poet feel that it is important to keep quiet and suspend all activity?
Ans: The purpose of this exercise, according to the poet, is to create a sense of togetherness in the minds of all people and
give them an opportunity to introspect.
3. What “exotic moment” does the poet refer to? Why do you think he deems it to be exotic?
Ans: The poet refers to the moment of silence, when all movement and mindless activities would be suspended.
It would be exotic because of the tranquility that would prevail in the absence of the unnecessary hustle and bustle of our
daily lives. Moreover the ecstasy a person experiences during meditation , has never been experienced earlier.
2. “Fishermen in the cold seA Would not harm whales
And the m an gathering salt Would look at his hurt hands.”
a) What is ‘fisherman’ symbolic of?
The fisherman symbolizes man’s indiscriminate exploitation of nature for his vested interests.
b) What will happen when fishermen do not harm whales?
The whales will be no longer on the verge of extinction. The suffering of the whales would reduce.
c) What would happen in this moment of silence?
He will become conscious of the harm causing to others and to themselves.
d) What image does the poet create in the last line?
He creates the image of incessant suffering. In his effort to add comforts to his life he has paid no heed to the pain that
caused him. So at the moment of silence, the person would analyse the harm he has done to himself.
e)What are the fishermen harming whales, a metaphor for?
Ans: It is a metaphor for humans destroying nature and wildlife for their own selfish needs.
f)What do the hurt hands imply?
Ans: In the mad rush of living, man does not realize the pain he is inflicting upon himself by his mindless and self
destructive activities
3. “Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire,………….and walk about with their brother in the
shade, doing nothing.”
a) Whom does ‘those’ refer to here?
‘Those’ refers to the politician, the statesmen and the scientists who are involved in initiating and aggravating wars
b) What does the poet mean by ‘victory with no survivors’?
During wars, though a nation becomes victorious , but it leads to the death of a number of people. So there are a few
survivors to celebrate the victory.
Moreover the war which man is waging against nature will one day convert this ‘living planet’ into a dead one and human
beings will become an extinct species. The war may be a victory of man’s scientific knowledge, but the defeat of humanity.
c)What lesson will man learn when he just walks about with his brothers doing nothing?
 Man will realize the strength of humanity and become conscious of universal brotherhood. His destructive activities would
come to an end.
4.” Perhaps the earth can teach us As when everything seems dead And later prove to be alive Now I’ll count up to
twelve. And you keep quiet and I will go.”.
a) Explain-‘you keep quiet and I will go’?
The poet wants all to keep quiet and experience the moment of peace. He will go and pass on the message to another group
of people.
b) What can earth teach us?
 everything not dead on this earth / there is life under apparent stillness
 teaches us to be alive / regeneration / power to recover from loss
 understanding of ourselves / peace and tranquillity /ceasing of all cruel activities / introspection
c) “Now I’ll count up to twelve”-Explain.
There are twelve markings on the clock to measure time / there are 12 months / taking time to calm down. Counting is a part
of an exercise in meditation. All distractions and digressions are washed away and man is in a moment of bliss
Short Question-Answers
Q1 Do you think the poet, Pablo Neruda advocates total inactivity and death? Why / Why not?
No, not doing anything, not speaking in any tongue would give mankind an opportunity to introspect and know how it has
been harming itself and the others / wants to have no truck with death / life sprouting out of seemingly dead surroundings /
lesson to learn from the earth
Q2. What is the sadness that the poet, Pablo Neruda refers to in the poem, 'Keeping Quiet' ?
Never understanding oneself– being oblivious of consequences– in a frenzy of activities – no time for introspection – fail to
understand fellow human beings– threat of death / own disaster– sadness of isolation.
Q3 What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?
The poet invokes the earth to teach us a valuable lesson by remaining dormant in winter and springing back to life in the
spring season. So quietness is productive this is the lesson nature is trying to teach us. A period of stillness can produce
positive and constructive energy and the end result will always be productive.
Q4. Explain: ‘no truck with death’.
No mass killing; no deaths in war of a nation against the other nation.
Q5What are we single minded about?
We are single minded about OUR SURVIVAL ,FULFILLING MATERIALISTIC DESIRES.and indulging in futile
and harmful activities under the false notion of progress.
Q6 Write the central theme or the message that the poem conveys?
Moment of silence leading to introspection and analysis will help man to unite, live in peace and foster universal
brotherhood.
Q7What are the poetic devices used in the poem keeping quiet?
*Alliteration – “we will”, “we would”, “once on”, “we would”, “his hurt hands”
*Antithesis – “count to twelve and we will all keep still”
*Repetition – “without rush, without engines”
*Imagery – “Cold Sea”
*rhyme scheme---no rhyme scheme----free verse
*Personification—Earth
Q8.What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve ?
Answer:-Counting upto twelve and keeping still gives us time to introspect ourselves. In this way, we can recuperate our
energy and restart our activities with fresh energy and zeal.
Q9.Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death ?
Answer:-No, the poet does not advocate total inactivity and death. He only wants us to keep quiet for a few seconds and
suspend all our activities for a few seconds. In this way we can introspect our¬selves and restart our activities with fresh
energy and zeal.
Q10.What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Answer:-When people don’t introspect themselves they fail to understand themselves, then ‘sadness’ arises. The poet wants
that people should overcome this sadness by introspecting themselves.
Q11What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness ?
Answer:-In this poem, the poet uses the symbol of the earth to say that there can be life under apparent stillness. He says
that the earth appears to be dead in the winter season. But when the spring season comes it becomes alive with all its new
plants. It never takes rest.
Q12.How would keeping quiet affect the life in and around the sea ?
Answer:-It will affect the life in and around the sea in two ways. The fishermen will stop fishing for some time. It will help
the number of the fish to recuperate. The man gathering salt will get some time to see his hurt hands get healed.
Q13.Life is what at is about;How is keeping quiet related to life ?
Answer:-Keeping quiet is related to life not death. The poet says that by keeping quiet we get some time to introspect
ourselves. Keeping quiet helps us to recuperate our energy. In this way we can start our activities with fresh zeal and energy.
Q14.-Why does one feel ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet ?
Answer:-When we keep quiet for some time and suspend all our activities for some time, we feel a sort of strangeness. The
reason is that we are always surrounded by the noise of machines, etc. When there is no sound, we feel a sort of strangeness.
Q15-How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environment ?
Answer:-Keeping quiet helps us to stop wars. In this way it helps to prevent destruction of environment due to wars. Also, it
prevents deforestation. In this way, we can say that keeping quiet is the only way to prevent our environment from all types
of pollution.
Q16.What does the poet want us to tell ?
Answer:-The poet wants us to tell that by keeping quiet and remaining still for few moments, we will be able to do our work
in a more effective way. We can analyse our past actions and not repeat our past, mistakes.
Q17..-What does the poet mean by saying ‘victory with no survivors’ ?
Answer:-According to the poet the wars cause a lot of destruction. A lot of people die from both the sides. Therefore, no one
can claim that their side has won, since the so called victor also has to face a lot of causalities.
Q18.-What are the different types of wars mentioned in the poem ? Or What is Neruda’s attitude towards these
wars?
Answer:-The poet says that there are green wars. He means t to say that the people who destroy forests also wage a war
against their own coming generations. There are wars with fire, chemical weapons and poisonous gases. The wars bring so
much destruction that no side could be called victorious. The poet wants that all these wars should be stopped. These wars
bring nothing but destruction.
Q19.-How does the earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness ?
Answer:-We think that earth is dead as it remains still. But many changes are taking place under the surface of the earth. A
seed that seems dead germinates under the earth and a new life springs from it.
Long Answer Type
Q 1.Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:-The poet wants everyone to count up to twelve in their mind. He wants every one of us to be calm and still. The
poet wants that one should not talk in any language. He means to say that every person of the world should be quiet for few
seconds. There would not be any rush. There would not be the jarring sounds of machines. The poet wants that the
fishermen should not hunt whales in the sea. He also wants that the persons who gather salt should suspend their activities
for a few seconds.
The poet says that the people who destroy forests also wage a war against their own coming generations. There are wars
with fire, chemical weapons and poisonous gases. The was bring so much destruction that no side could be called victorious.
The poet knows that the soldiers have to follow the orders. He implores them to leave the army and instead of uniforms
wear clean clothes. They should walk with their civilian brothers and suspend their all war-related activities and walk idly
under the shade.
The poet wants that we should not be self-centred. The poet says that the people are rushing to complete their tasks. But he
says that by keeping quiet for a few seconds, they can understand the true purpose of life. The poet wants that we should not
be self-centred. The poet says that the people are rushing to complete their tasks. The poet says that by keeping quiet for a
few seconds they can understand the true purpose of life. The poet says that the earth can provide us all type of guidance. He
says that it appears dead and lifeless in winter. But when the summer season comes everything again comes to life.
Similarly, after taking a short pause we can restart our activities in a new way. Therefore, the poet asks the people to take a
pause, count to twelve and walks out of the scene.
Q 2.-Write the central idea of the poem.
Answer:-In this poem, the poet tells us about the value of quiet introspection. He wants us to keep quiet for twelve seconds
and stop every movement of the body. He implores the fishermen not to harm the whales. He also wants the man gathering
salt to stop his activities for a few minutes, since he has hurt his hands. The poet says that wars are useless.These wars leave
no survivors. However the poet doesn’t advocate total inactivity. He says that something that appears to be dead now later
proves to be alive. Total inactivity is death, the poet just wants us to suspend our activities for a few seconds.