ENGLISH ALS PROJECT

KEEPING QUIET

Alvina Ann Jinu, XII A

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
A project is a golden opportunity for learning and self-
development. I consider myself fortunate and privileged to have
such wonderful mentors guide me through the journey for the
completion of the project. I express my heartfelt gratitude to
my English teacher Mrs. Jayadevi maam, for her patience and
belief in me. Her exemplary investment in the complete
process, constant encouragement and insightful feedback
helped me to achieve my objective(s).

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 INDEX

CONTENTS PGNO.
1. Theme of the poem 4
2.Poetic devices 5
3.Significance of twelve 7
4.Self-interospection 8
5.Summary 9
6.Analysis 15
7.Conclusion 16
8.Bibliography 17

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 THEME OF THE POEM

‘Keeping Quiet' by Pablo Neruda is a

deceptively simple poem (anti-war
poetry) about the need for a little bit of
soul searching which may help us make
peace with ourselves and others. The
poet is worried about violence, animal
brutality, and the fate of manual laborers. Self-introspection-
first big step toward bringing people together if it is
implemented. A moment of silent introspection will make us
realize the utter futility of our aggressive endeavors. The
second phase is for everyone to examine themselves and
determine what is wrong and who is to blame. This will purify
every heart and elevate everyone.

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 POETIC DEVICES

 Alliteration: Repetition of
consonant sounds at the
beginning of words. E.g.: “we
will”, “sudden strangeness”,
“stop for one second”, “his hurt hands”, “clean clothes”.
 Repetition: Repetition of phrases in the poem for
poetic effect. E.g.: “without rush, without engines”.
 Symbolism: E.g. “Brothers”- mankind, “green wars”-
deforestation, “wars with gas”- pollution, “clean clothes”-
change of perspective, “shade”- protection, etc.
 Antithesis: The juxtaposition of opposing or
contrasting ideas. E.g.: “count to twelve and we will all
keep still”.

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 Personification: The attribution of human
characteristics to non-human things and animals. E.g.:
“Earth can teach us….”.
 Metaphor: Indirect comparison between two things
that aren’t alike but do have something in common. E.g.:
“shade” refers to protection.
 Enjambment: Continuation of a sentence to the next
line/stanza. E.g.: “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.” etc.

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 SIGNIFICANCE OF TWELVE
People of the world need excuses to
fight among themselves so let them keep
quiet and understand the utter futility
(serving no useful purposes) of their
distractive endeavors. The poet asks the
reader to take a little time out of their busy lives for
introspection and retrospection. Neruda’s choice of number
twelve is very significant, by using twelve Neruda is
encompassing the dial of the clock, the twelve months, and the
twelve zodiac signs which predict our future.

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 SELF-INTROSPECTION

The Poet has emphasized the need to introspect and bring in

the spirit of brotherhood among the people of the world. He
wants people to stop talking and stop all movements. Moments
of silence-strange and exotic because in our mundane life, we
are working towards achieving selfish goals, regardless of the
others requirements and emotions. Barriers between
communities would break and a sense of brotherhood would
prevail. Man would get an opportunity to realize how he is
destroying nature and harming himself.

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 SUMMARY
The power of silence and thought as a means of comprehending and
engaging with the world is the theme of the poem “Keeping Quiet”.
In order to develop a better understanding of themselves and their
surroundings, the poet emphasizes on stillness and watching nature.
The speaker makes the claim that one can develop a sense of
oneness with one’s surroundings and other people by remaining
silent and observing. The poem also considers how the modern
world may be noisy and distracting and how spending some time to
be silent and still can be a helpful strategy for obtaining clarity and
inner calm.
Now let’s look at the explanation of each stanza of the poem.:
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,

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let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
Explanation: 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
a 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.
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

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and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
Explanation: 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.
Third stanza
Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
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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: 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.
Fourth stanza
If we were not so single-minded
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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: 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

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achieved and the greed to achieve what next is in the list to be
achieved.
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 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 it’s 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.
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 ANALYSIS
Neruda uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey his message.
The "day of quiet" is not just a literal day but a metaphor for a state
of mind where we can truly connect with ourselves and others. The
natural world is presented as a source of wisdom and inspiration,
reminding us of our place in the grand scheme of things. The
poem's structure, with its short lines and simple language, creates a
sense of intimacy and immediacy.

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 CONCLUSION
"Keeping Quiet" is a timeless poem that invites us to reflect on the
importance of silence, nature, and human connection. It reminds us
that in a world filled with noise and distractions, true understanding
and peace can only be found through moments of quiet reflection
and appreciation for the world around us.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
English TEXT BOOK(NCERT)
Vendatu.com
Toppr.com

THANK YOU!!
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