Keeping Quiet By Pablo Neruda Explanation and Question Answer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pablo Neruda (1904 – 1973) was the ‘pen name’ and later, ‘legal name’ of this famous Chilean poet – diplomat – politician. He won the Noble prize for literature in the year 1971. He wrote in green ink which was his personal symbol for desire and hope. His writings are simple, wherein lies their beauty.

Originally written in Spanish, the essence of this poem is based on introspection and retrospection. The poet feels that some soul – searching is needed for us to be at peace with ourselves and others.

Keeping Quiet  THEME

This poem is about the necessity of quiet introspection and creating a feeling of mutual

understanding among human beings.

Keeping Quiet Word-meaning

• Introspection - Examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings; self-analysis.
• Still - Not moving or making a sound; deep silence and calm.
• The face of the earth - Used for emphasis, the expression means 'in the whole world'.
• Exotic - Strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance.
• Strangeness - The quality of being unfamiliar.
• Want no truck with - Avoid dealing or being associated with.
• Interrupt - Stop the continuous progress of an activity or process.
• Threatening - Indicating or suggesting the approach of possible trouble or danger.

Keeping Quiet  SUMMARY

“Keeping Quiet” is a peace poem written by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. The poet asks humanity to count numbers from one to twelve - twelve being the number of hours shown in a clock or the number of zodiac signs. He requests everyone not to speak because languages create barriers between people. The moment when everyone stops moving their body will be very special and different as we have never experienced such a moment before. The poet says that in this period of inactivity the fishermen would not harm the whales, the salt gatherers will not hurt their hands, those who are busy destroying the nature will adopt a new approach towards life, The men who are preparing for wars and victory based on deaths of innocent people will join their enemy and stand in unity with them, doing nothing. No one will harm himself or any other person. Everyone will unite and ponder upon his acts and realize the results of his deeds.

The poet clarifies his idea and says further that he does not want that people should stand idle. He wants that there should be no war because he does not want to see trucks laden with dead bodies of the soldiers. He is promoting Universal brotherhood and peace.

The poet says that everyone is working continuously, to achieve one’s goals. People are threatened by death and the fear forces them to work endlessly so that they can achieve everything quickly. In this mad rush, they do not realize the repercussions of their acts. He wants us to pause and come out of the mad rush. He wants us to be happy about our achievements and celebrate them. He wants us to overcome the fear of death and to relax for a while. We should know the results of our deeds and celebrate our achievements.

When the people will remain quiet for a while, they will realize the purpose of their lives. Just like all the creations of nature undergo a rebirth with the change of seasons, similarly, keeping quiet will be a rebirth for the human soul. It will give a new meaning to our life. Again, the poet says that he will count till twelve and asks everyone to remain quiet while he leaves.

 

WORDS/PHRASES WITH THEIR CONTEXTUAL MEANINGS

Not speak in any language: be silent

Exotic: peaceful, unusual

No survivors: no winners or no losers

Threatening ourselves: self-destruction

to have no truck with : to refuse to associate or deal with, to refuse to tolerate something

Keeping Quiet  POETIC DEVICES

Rhyme scheme of the poem

• The poem is written in free verse. It does not follow any rhyme scheme.

Figures of Speech

Anaphora: Two consecutive lines starting with the word ‘Let’s’

• let’s not speak in any language,
• let’s stop for one second,

Alliteration: the repetition of a consonant sound at the start of 2 or more closely placed words.

• ‘we will’ - ‘w’ sound is repeated
• ‘sudden strangeness’ - ‘s’ sound is repeated, ‘his hurt hands’ - ‘h’ sound is repeated

Repetition: use of ‘war’

enjambment: A sentence is carried over to next line without pause.

and for once could perhaps a huge silence……..of threatening ourselves with death.

 

Keeping Quiet

- Pablo Neruda

This poem focuses on the importance of -introspection (looking at one’s own inner reality) - self- realization. The poet says that everyone should count up to twelve and should keep still (no sound or movement).

‘Twelve’ can indicate any length of time; it can be a minute, an hour, twelve hours, twelve months and so on. In this duration no one should speak in any language or move one’s arms. Not moving one’s arms means not engaging in any activity.

The word ‘language’ indicates that there are many languages in the world. Everyone speaks but nobody tries to understand others.

There is the use of a poetic device called pun, in the word ‘arms’. Pun is the use of one word to indicate two different things at the same time. The word ‘arms’ has two meanings- hands, and, weapons. 

The moment, when no one speaks or does anything, would be exotic (unusual and beautiful). There would not be any rush (to move or run around in a hurry) of activity. All vehicles and machines would stop so there would not be any sound of engines. All of a sudden there would be silence, which would be a strange experience for everybody.

Everybody would be able to feel the silence and tranquility in this exotic moment. In this silence people would think about the meaning of their life. Fishermen would not harm the whales. 

Fishermen represent those people who harm others during their own work. 

The man gathering salt (from the seawater) would look at his hurt hands. This man represents those people who harm themselves during their work.

Such people would stop their activities and realize how their own actions have been harmful to others and to themselves.

In this exotic moment, people would realize that war and violence is useless. People who prepare green wars are those who destroy nature in the name of development or those who use natural elements to harm others. Gas and fire represent different kinds of weapons. People would think about the purpose of life.

Putting on clean clothes means that they would remove the dirty feelings like anger, violence and jealousy from their mind. Their mind would be full of ‘clean’ feelings like love, faith, unity and friendship. They would feel united with other human beings and would consider them brothers. When people step away from the fire of violence, they would feel that they have come into the peaceful shade of love and friendship. They would no longer do violent activities so it would appear that they are doing nothing.

However, the poet does not support total lack of action. Inactivity means death. The poet does not want to talk about death (I want no truck with death). He wants to experience life. Life is about two aspects- outer activity and inner activity. The poet wants that everybody should stop the outer activities but the inner activity in the mind must continue. One must think about life.

People have been single- minded; they focus only on running ahead in life (keeping our lives moving). But everybody is full of sadness. We are sad because we do not understand our life and our activities take us towards death through tension and violence (threatening ourselves with death).

Sometimes we have to be externally inactive in order to think about the meaning of life. An example can be seen in nature. In winter, trees dry up. The dry trees are not dead. They shed the leaves to refresh themselves for the birth of new leaves. In winter, many organisms begin to hibernate (become inactive to save energy in winter). Everything appears to be dead but, in reality, everything is gearing up to begin life with a new energy

after winter. This is an example that there can be life under apparent (that appears on the surface) stillness (no sound or movement). 

At the end the poet again asks the reader to count up to twelve and be quiet.

 

Keeping Quiet (Explanation).

First stanza

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.

i. The poet asks everyone to count up to twelve in their mind. The number twelve represents the hours of the day or the months of a year.

ii. He wants all of us to be calm and still.

iii. People across the nations have to unite together, so, they shall not speak their own languages, rather they all shall keep quiet and speak the language of silence.

iv. This will bring unity among all the humans on the face of the Earth.

v. For at least one moment, no one shall move his arms either to signal, or to fight, or argue with each other.

The poet here requests everyone to count till twelve in their own mind and to stop for a while. May be this ‘twelve’ referred by the poet is the twelve hours in the clock or the twelve months in an year. He wants everyone to stop and calm down. The poet urges everyone not to speak any language. As we all know that there are different languages spoken in different parts of the earth which sometimes become a barrier in our way for peace. So, he asks people not to speak. Not only this, he also wants us to stop moving our arms. By using the word ‘arms’ he means the weapons which are used by different countries to raise a war against each other. So basically the poet is demanding peace from all of us.

 

Keeping Quiet  Literary devices:

Assonance: Use of vowel sound ‘o’ and ‘e’ (Now we will count to twelve, not move our arms so much)

Anaphora: Two consecutive lines starting with the word ‘Let’s’ let’s not speak in any language, let’s stop for one second,

Alliteration: the repetition of a consonant sound at the start of 2 or more closely placed

words.

‘we will’ - ‘w’ sound is repeated

 

Second stanza

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.

Explanation

When everything will come to a standstill, it will be a rare situation.

i. No one will be in a rush, there will be no engines running.

ii. Everyone will be calm and quiet, united with each other in a strange atmosphere.

iii. It will be strange because it has never happened earlier.

iv. No person would be harming any other living being either for food or to earn his

livelihood.

v. All the people who work endlessly will get some time to look at their injuries and the

damage they have caused to their body.

 

Poet says that it would be a rare situation when there will be no engines working. Here he wants to stay that if everything comes to standstill, it will be a very different moment. If all the engines like the vehicles and machines stop, then there will be a sudden, strange situation as the world will experience a sudden calmness. People will not be in a rush to achieve material things one after another. Further the poet says that the fisherman will also stop and not harm whales in the sea. This means that the poet is urging everyone not to harm the animals. Here he gives the example of whales which are being hunted for the purpose of food or trade. He also wants people to calm down so that they can stop and see what they have achieved or lost. For this he gives the example of the man who gathers salt, whose hands are hurt. Here he wants everyone to stop for a while in order to see and feel their achievements and how much they have lost for the sake of attaining such materialistic things.

Literary devices:

Alliteration- ‘we would’ - ‘w’ sound is repeated, ‘sudden strangeness’ - ‘s’ sound is repeated,

‘his hurt hands’ - ‘h’ sound is repeated

Third stanza

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.

What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity 

Life is what it is about;

I want no truck with death.

 

Explanation

i. The people who exploit the green wealth of nature by deforestation, or mining, or fishing in the deep seas and the soldiers who use weapons to kill fellow human beings need some time to introspect into the consequences of their actions. They are merely doing their job or following orders.

ii. He wants them to put on ‘new clothes’ i.e. to adopt a new approach towards life and to

realize that killing so many people is not a victory.

iii. He wants all of us to be united as one, consider our enemy to be our brother.

iv. He is promoting brotherhood, peace and unity.

v. He does not want us to stop our works but to take some time and analyze the results of our deeds.

 

The poet asks everyone to stop those activities which are damaging the environment. Today all the human beings are making money by damaging the environment with their activities such as mining, deforestation, letting the chemical waste into rivers, etc. The poet asks us not to do so. He also requests people not to involve in wars as there is no benefit of achieving such victory in which no one is left alive. He says so because wars and environmental damage will lead to no life on earth. Rather, he wants people to adopt a new approach towards life and mankind. He says that you should treat your enemy like brothers and promote peace and harmony in the world.

 

Literary devices:

Alliteration: ‘wars with’ - ‘w’ sound is repeated, ‘clean clothes’ - ‘c’ sound is repeated

Assonance: use of vowel ‘o’ (victory with no survivors, would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers)

Repetition: use of ‘war’

 

Fourth stanza

If we were not so single-minded

about keeping our lives moving,

and for once could perhaps a huge silence

might interrupt this sadness 

of never understanding ourselves

and of threatening ourselves with death.

Explanation

i. All human beings work endlessly with the aim of completing all their tasks.

ii. They are driven by the target of survival and the threat of death.

iii. So they are in a mad rush to accomplish all their works.

iv. He says that perhaps, if they pause for a while, they can appreciate their achievements and their lives would become happier.

v. He suggests that by keeping quiet, we will be able to understand the true purpose of our life.

 

Now the poet wants to clarify to his readers that when he asks them to stop from saying or doing anything, he doesn’t want anyone to become a non active person. Non active is a person who remains idle and doesn’t do anything. Here, he simply means that we should stop and see the consequences of our deeds. The poet doesn’t want to see people being killed due to their greed for money and expansion of territories. Further, he says that people are continuously working to achieve their tasks without even thinking about their results. They are in fear of death and therefore, want to achieve most of the things before their death. Here he urges them to stop for a while and take some moment to relish on what they have achieved till now. Everyone here is living a life in which he wants to achieve various things one after another. But now the poet says it is the time to stop and see what has been achieved and should be enjoyed. This will help us skip the sadness which has become so prominent in our lives. The sadness of not enjoying what we have achieved and the greed to achieve what next is in the list to be achieved.

 

Literary devices

Alliteration: we were, so single - minded

Enjambment: and for once could perhaps a huge silence……..of threatening ourselves with death.

Fifth stanza

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.

 

Explanation

The poet suggests us to take a teaching from nature.

i. As the Earth undergoes changes, in winter, everything freezes, becomes lifeless but after

some time, the season changes again, and everything comes back to life.

ii. Similarly, taking a pause and introspecting into our lives will give it a new meaning. We will be able to understand the purpose of our life. It will be like a re birth of the soul.

iii. The poet has conveyed to all the people the purpose of his message and so, he asks them once again to take a pause, count till twelve and walks out of the scene, keeping the scene open for all the people on the Earth to experience this for times to come.

 

So, now the poet suggests to the human beings that we should learn a lesson from Earth. During the winters everything freezes and becomes lifeless. But when season changes and its the onset of spring season, everything present in the nature such as the trees, birds, rivers, etc gets life. So here, the poet, by giving the example of nature, wants to say that all the human beings should stop and try to judge their deeds. They can try and make their life better with calmness, peace. Finally, he ends up by saying that now he will count up to twelve so that we all may become quiet. Here ‘quiet’ means to calm down ourselves and move towards the path of peace and harmony. After saying this he says ‘I will go’. He says so as he has conveyed his message to the people and wants them to be left alone to think about it and work in the direction of peace.

 
Keeping Quiet  QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (NCERT)

Q1- What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us achieve?

A1-If we count upto twelve and keep still, it will give us some time to analyze our deeds. It will allow us some moments to think about the result of our activities. People in the world are involved in wars and are also damaging the environment in order to achieve their aims. Unfortunately this is taking all of us toward our own end. So, we need to think in order to achieve peace and harmon

 

Q2- Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

A2- No, the poet doesn’t advocate total inactivity and death. He clarifies this in his poem that he wants all the people to just stop for a while in order to analyze their activities and their consequences. He wants human beings not to support war and damage to the environment.

Q3- What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?

A3- The sadness is the result of our own actions and deeds. According to the poet we all are in a hurry of achieving various tasks in our life. This rush sometimes proves dangerous for us. As we don’t analyze our actions, so we land ourselves in a number of problems. These problems then become the reason for our sadness as referred to in the poem.

Q4- What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?

A4- The poet takes the example of earth to prove that there can be life under apparent stillness. The earth never gets inactive. We experience the change in the seasons which brings so many different things with it. In winters, things come to a standstill as the water bodies freeze; the trees shed their leaves, etc. But as soon as the spring season comes, it brings with it the lovely flowers, flowing rivers and a new life is given to the nature. So, the poet wants to convey that we should stay calm but that doesn’t mean that it will bring total inactivity and stillness.

Keeping Quiet  ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 words)

Question.1. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’? 

Answer. The poet refers to the moment of stillness and quietness as an exotic moment. It would be an exotic moment, as such a tranquillity will initiate peace and brotherhood. There would be no movement, no talk, no activity and consequently, no violence.

Question.2. What is the sadness that the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’?

Answer. The poet refers to the sadness which surrounds man due to not having any time for himself, the pain of not understanding what he or his fellow human beings want. He has no time for introspection; as a result, he is unable to analyse his own actions and understand its consequences.

Question.3. Which images in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ show that the poet condemns violence? 

Answer. The images of fishermen not harming the whales in the sea and wars leaving behind no survivors to celebrate the victory show that the poet condemns violence. The poet wants the warmongers to change their blood-stained clothes to clean ones. The poet’s refusal to have any association or dealing with death also shows that he is not in favour of any form of violence Question.

4. What symbol from nature does the poet use to prove that keeping quiet is not total inactivity? 

Answer. The poet uses nature as a symbol to explain his idea that there can be life under apparent stillness. According to him, keeping quiet is not total inactivity. A seed may appear to be dead and inactive, but one day, the same seed may turn into a fruitful tree.

Question.5. How, according to Neruda, can keeping quiet change our attitude to life?

Answer. Keeping quiet and suspending all our activities for a brief moment will give us time to introspect and analyse our own actions. We will develop a new understanding of our surroundings and thus change our attitude to life. We will check our destructive ways and try to be more positive and constructive.

Question.6. What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars?

Answer. The poet has written about wars against humanity and nature. Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem. Wars do good to no one. Pablo Neruda feels that such wars may bring victory, but there are no survivors. It means that there is heavy loss on both sides.

Question.7. How can suspension of activities help? 

Answer. The poet believes that suspension of activities will allow man to introspect, which can help them in analysing their own actions, and in solving many of their problems based on caste, religion or nationality. It will help them develop a new understanding of their surroundings, and thus make them mend their destructive ways.

Question.8. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death? (Delhi 2011)

Answer. No, the poet clearly states that his asking for stillness should not be confused with total inactivity or death. He perceives life to be a continuous process, where man’s activities should not lead to destruction of fellow human beings or nature, but should be channelised in a resourceful way.

Question.9. According to the poet, what is it that human beings can learn from nature? 

Answer. Life under apparent stillness in attitude is the thing which man can learn from nature. The Earth is never in a state of total inactivity. Nature carries on its work even where there is stillness all around. Winter is associated with inactivity, but this is not actually true.

Keeping Quiet Notebook Question Answer

Read the stanzas given below and answer the questions that follow each:

1.Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
Questions
(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.
(b)Why does the poet ask us to count to twelve?
(c)Why does the poet ask us to keep still?
(d) Find words from the passage which mean.
(ii) say number (iii) quiet and motionless.
Answers:
(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b)There are only twelve signs on the clock to measure hours. Therefore, the poet asks us to count till the clock measures these horns.
(c)Too much activity and rush has only brought misfortunes to mankind. Hence, it is better to be quiet and still.
(d) (i) count (ii) still

2. 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)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

(b)‘Let’s not speak in any language’, says the poet. Why?

(c)What should we not do for a second?

(d) What do you understand by ‘the face of the Earth ?

Answers:

(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.

(b)The people of the world have been indulging in wars and bloodsheds on minor excuses. If they keep quiet, they may not indulge in reasoning, disputes and quarrels. So, let them keep quiet and not speak in any language. This will ensure peace and prosperity.

(c)We should cease all activities for a second. Man has used his arms only to kill and destroy others. Therefore, let them not move their arms so much as to harm others.

(d) The expression “the face of the Earth’ refers to the various countries on the surface of the earth.

3.It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together

in a sudden strangeness.

Questions

(a)Name the poem and the poet of these lines.

(b)What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?

(c)What sort of moment will it be?

(d)How would all of us feel at that moment?

Answers:

(a)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.

(b)There will be peace all around if there is no rush or the sound of the running of engines and machines.

(c)It will be a very enticing and beautiful moment.

(d) All of us will enjoy the unusualness and sudden strangeness of that moment.

4. Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt

would look at his hurt hands.

Questions

(a)What do fishermen usually do in the cold sea?

(b)What does the poet ask fishermen not to do?

(c)What has happened to the man gathering salt?

(d) What should the man gathering salt do?

Answers:

(a)Fishermen usually catch fish, particularly whales, in the cold seas.

(b)The poet asks fishermen not to hurt or injure the whales in the seas.

(c)The man gathering salt has injured his hands.

(d)He must take care of his hurt hands.

5. 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 of these lines.

(b)What sort of wars are mentioned in the above lines?

(c)What kind of victory will it be?

(d) How should the lovers of war behave?

Answers:

(а)The name of the poem is Keeping Quiet. The poet is Pablo Neruda.

(b)Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with the fire are the different kinds of wars.

(c) It will be a victory where no survivors will be left to celebrate it. Such a victory will be meaningless.

(d) They should put on clean clothes and walk with their brothers under the trees leisurely doing nothing.

6.What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity. i Life is what it is about;

I want no truck with death.

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)What does the poet want? What should it not be confused with?

(b)Explain: 7 want no truck with death’.

(c)What do people pursue single-mindedly? Which is the better course the poet suggests?

(d)When can a huge silence do us good?

Answers:

(а)The poet is advocating for silence or stillness. Stillness should not be confused with total inactivity.

(b)Total inactivity brings death. The poet refuses to associate (or deal) with death. Thus, he is not advocating for death.

(c)People pursue single-mindedly on keeping their lives moving. ..The poet suggests that it would be better if they give themselves rest for sometime. For once they may do nothing.

(d)A huge silence can do us a lot of good when we are disappointed at not understanding ourselves or threatening ourselves with death.

7. 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 can the Earth teach us?

(b)What remains alive when everything seems dead?

(c)Who is the poet? What does he want to do?

(d)What does the poet ask us to do?

Answers:

‘(a) The earth can teach us a lesson how to live on it.

(b)Only the earth remains alive when everything seems dead.

(c) The poet is Pablo Neruda. He wants to count upto twelve.

(d) He asks us to keep quiet while he is counting upto twelve.

QUESTIONS FROM TEXTBOOK SOLVED

Q1. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve?

Ans: Counting up to twelve takes very short time. Keeping still for this brief interval of time gives us a momentary pause to introspect and review the course of action. It is generally observed that most of the ills and troubles of the world are caused by our rush or hurry. Violence is caused by anger. Keeping quiet and still will give us necessary respite and ensure peace.

Q2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?

Ans: No, he doesn’t advocate either total inactivity or death. He makes it quite clear that ‘stillness’ should not be confused with “total inactivity or equated to it. Total inactivity brings death. But Neruda has ‘no truck with death’. His stillness means halting of harmful and hostile human activities.

Q3. What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem? [All India 2014]

Ans: Man’s sadness is formed out of his own actions and thoughts. It is quite ironical that man who understands so much fails to understand himself and his action. Rash actions prove harmful and disastruous. Man is the creator of all disasters. He is always threatening himself with death because of his thoughts and actions. This is the tragedy of his life.

Q4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness?

Ans: The poet wants to prove that there can be life under apparent stillness. The poet invokes the earth as a living symbol to prove his point. The earth never attains total inactivity. Nature remains at work all the time even under apparent stillness. It keeps earth alive. This idea is beautifully illustrated by the following lines:“as when everything seems dead and later proves to he alive.”

Q5. Choose a quiet corner and keep still physically and mentally for about five minutes. Do you feel any change in your state of mind?

Ans: Extension Activity: For self-study.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (Word Limit: 30-40 words)

Q1. Why does Pablo Neruda urge us to keep still?

Ans: Stillness is essential for calm reflection and quiet introspection. We hear the voice of conscience in moments of silence. The poet is convinced that most of human ills and miseries are caused by man’s hurry and rush to do things. The poet wishes that we may withdraw ourselves from our undesirable actions and keep still for a moment.

Q2. Why shouldn’t we “speak in any language” and “not move our arms so much”?

Ans: People of the world speak in different languages. They indulge in unnecessary debates and disputes. Most of these arguments lead to destructive wars. The poet urges people to stop speaking in any language. They must speak through their hearts. So far men have moved their arms only to harm others. Therefore, the poet wants that they should not move their arms so much. Let these arms rest for once. Let a feeling of mutual understanding , be created among human beings.

Q3. Pablo Neruda says:“we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.”

When can we experience such a moment? Why will that be an exotic moment?

Ans: Non-stop activity, unnecessary rush and noise have made our lives unpleasant and full of misery, pain and troubles. We must stop rushing, hurrying, worrying and running. Even the noise of engines and machines must stop for once. Then all of us will enjoy the sudden strangeness of that moment. It will be a unique moment. In that exotic or fascinating moment we shall feel totally relaxed, physically as well as mentally.

Q4. What does the poet ask the fisherman and the man collecting salt to dot What docs In-exactly want to convey by this?

Ans: Pablo Neruda is against any kind of violence. He addresses the fishermen and asks them not to harm whales living in the cold seas of the polar regions. He is also against any kind of self torturing. The man who is gathering salt has hint his hands. He asks this man to look after himself and take care of his injured hands.

Q5. What are the different kinds of war mentioned towards war?

Ans: The poet is against wars of all kinds. He wants a total stoppage of war. Green wars against the environment, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire must be terminated (stopped) at once.

Q6. What alternative does Pablo Neruda suggest instead of indulging in wars?

Ans: Instead of indulging in wars, the people must come out in their best dresses with then- brothers. They should go out for a walk under the shady trees and enjoy themselves doing nothing. This would bring the feeling of togetherness among them.

Q7. How does the poet distinguish ‘stillness’ from ‘total inactivity’? Why does Neruda saw I want no truck with death?

Ans: Pablo Neruda is in favour of stillness or silence. We remain still and quiet for sometime. On the other hand, total inactivity is a permanent suspension of work. It is just like death. ‘Stillness’ should not be Confused with ‘total inactivity’. Life goes on as usual. There can’t be anything like total inactivity. The poet refuses to associate with death or deal with it.

Q8. Why does the poet fee! that we should not be so single-minded’?

Ans: People are generally single-minded. They want to focus on only one thing. They want to keep their lives going. They are ever busy in their pursuit. The poet wishes that they would not be so much absorbed with always remaining on the move. They must have some respite or rest. They too need peace or silence.

Q9.Why do men become sad? How can this sadness be overcome?

Ans: Men fail to understand themselves. They are always threatening themselves with death. When they realise their failure to understand themselves they become sad or helpless. Fear of death also makes them sad. Only a huge silence’ can interrupt this sadness. Such silence will do them good.

Q10. How might a huge silence interrupt the sadness of men?

Ans: Men never understand themselves. Nor are they ever sure of their actions. They face another tragedy. Due to their own actions, they are threatening themselves with death. This realisation makes them helpless and sad. Only a huge (long) silence might interrupt this sadness and do them some good.

Q11. Under the apparent stillness there is life. Justify this statement giving an example from the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’.

Ans: Neruda does not equate stillness with total inactivity. He believes that under this apparent stillness there is life. We can learn it from the earth. When everything seems dead, the earth still remains alive. The earth is never dead. The life on the earth goes on as usual under the apparent stillness.

Q12. Justify the title ‘Keeping Quiet’.

Ans: The title of the poem is quite appropriate and logical. It suggests the necessity of quiet introspection. The people of the world are overactive and always on the move. Their activities have caused untold troubles and sufferings. Keeping quiet will do them a lot of good. It will save them from many harmful and violent activities. Moreover, it will help in reflecting over the fate of man and help in creating a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.

Q13. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’:

Ans: The poet talks about the exotic moment when everyone keeps quiet. There will be no rush for a second. The machines must stop for a moment. That moment will be fascinating for all of us. All of us shall enjoy the sudden strangeness of the moment together.